The African Editors Forum (TAEF), a continental network of editors, senior newsroom leaders, and media executives committed to strengthening independent journalism and advancing media freedom across Africa, has committed to advocating for reforms in Africa’s media policy and legal landscape to promote sustainable, and independent journalism.
The editors met in Nairobi, Kenya, on February 23 and 24, 2026, for the Africa Editors Congress (AEC) 2026 and TAEF’s Bi-annual General Meeting, where they resolved that TAEF will move toward structured, policy-driven interventions to secure the future of independent journalism in Africa. TAEF also elected a new Executive Council for a two-year term.
TAEF members also committed to engaging technology platforms, government, competition authorities, and other information ecosystem role players on ways to secure the future of journalism and universal access to news in the public interest.
Other resolutions reached at the meeting include strengthening protections and duty of care for journalists in increasingly hostile digital and political environments, and defining clear instruments and minimum standards for affiliation to consolidate a strong, accountable continental network of editors’ organisations.
They also committed to building a structured fundraising strategy to ensure TAEF’s institutional sustainability and expanding the Executive Committee to include regional chairs and presidents to enhance representation and coordination across Africa.
Following the election of a new executive council, the following individuals were elected: Mr Churchill Otieno (Kenya), who was re-elected as President; Mr Emmanuel K Dogbevi (Ghana), who was also re-elected as Vice-President; Sibusiso Ngalwa (South Africa), elected as Secretary-General; and Jeannie Pao Olesitse (Botswana), elected as Treasurer.
In his acceptance speech, Mr Otieno said: “Africa’s editors are entering a new phase of continental coordination. Our focus is clear: fair value for journalism, credible policy engagement, and institutional strength. We are determined to ensure that journalism is treated not as disposable content, but as democratic infrastructure essential Africa’s development.”
TAEF works to promote ethical standards, defend press freedom, deepen professional solidarity, and support editorial innovation in response to the evolving political, economic, and technological landscape shaping the continent. Through convenings such as the Africa Editors Congress and strategic partnerships with regional and global institutions, TAEF provides a platform for dialogue on journalism’s role in democracy, development, and African agency in emerging domains. The Forum also champions fair compensation for journalism as a public good, newsroom resilience in the digital age, and collaborative responses to threats facing journalists and media organisations. TAEF serves as a collective voice for Africa’s editors advancing a journalism culture rooted in independence, public interest, and lasting excellence.
