Publication:

Communiqué of the 1311th Meeting of the Peace and Security Council, held on 14 November 2025, a Discussion on Media, Peace and Security in Africa.

The Peace and Security Council (PSC) of the African Union, meeting at its 1311th session on 14 November 2025 under the Chairship of Cameroon, considered the theme “Media, Peace and Security.” Building on previous AU decisions, legal instruments and outcomes from engagements such as the AU-UNESCO African Media Convention, the Council examined the evolving role of the media in promoting peace, security, accountability and the popularisation of AU initiatives, including Agenda 2063 and Silencing the Guns. The Communiqué highlights the media’s critical contribution to governance and conflict prevention, while expressing deep concern over rising threats especially violence against journalists, disinformation, misinformation, hate speech, deepfakes and AI-facilitated gender-based online abuse targeting women journalists. It calls on Member States and stakeholders to strengthen protection frameworks, ensure accountability for attacks, enhance information integrity, develop continental media regulatory and digital peace mechanisms, and reinforce collaboration among AU organs, RECs/RMs and media organisations. The PSC concludes by requesting a consolidated matrix of AU decisions on media and journalist safety and commits to remain seized of the matter.