Amidst the growing civil and media activism across the African continent, Mr. Beki Ben Amer—Secretary-General of the international organization « ANA » (Aimons Notre Afrique) and Secretary-General of the Alliance of African Journalists and Human Rights Defenders—arrived in Khartoum, Sudan, in early January 2023 for a strategic working visit.
This visit was in response to an official invitation from the Horn of Africa Studies and Research Center, aiming to launch a new collaborative path that places purposeful media and civil society at the heart of the effort to consolidate peace and build stability.
The visit was hosted by the Horn of Africa Studies and Research Center in Sudan, which organized an intensive program comprising intellectual dialogues, academic panel discussions, and training sessions for national journalists. The initiative sought to formulate a shared vision capable of addressing the political and societal challenges facing both the country and the region.
The historic Sharjah Hall at the University of Khartoum hosted the visit’s key event: a high-level specialized workshop titled « The Role of Media in Promoting Political Stability in Sudan.
» The event drew a distinguished audience of academics, researchers, opinion leaders, and content creators. Mr. Beki Ben Amer played an active role in the workshop, offering insightful contributions that focused on unpacking the vital relationship between responsible journalism and the preservation of social peace.
He emphasized that the press in transitional environments is not merely a conveyor of facts but a societal safety valve and a key driver of national consensus. He warned against the dangers of rumors, disinformation, hate speech, and polarization aimed at unraveling the internal social fabric.
Coinciding with the workshop activities, Secretary-General Baki Ben Amer conducted an advanced training course on « Strategic Media » for Sudanese media professionals and journalists at the University of Khartoum’s Sharjah Hall. The course focused on defining the concept of « inclusive media » and its modern functional dimensions, while exploring contemporary tools and techniques that enable journalists to move beyond superficial, real-time coverage toward creating analytical content that positively influences public opinion.
Significant attention was also devoted to the professional and ethical values governing journalistic practice—foremost among them national responsibility, fact-checking, neutrality, and the promotion of a culture of tolerance and peaceful coexistence.
The outcomes of the visit and joint activities underscored the importance of institutionalizing cooperation between the Alliance of African Media Professionals and Human Rights Advocates and the Horn of Africa Studies and Research Center.
They also highlighted the need to establish enduring professional networks that allow Sudanese journalists to benefit from shared African expertise, thereby consolidating the rule of law and strengthening the foundations of stability in Sudan and the Horn of Africa region
