How can journalists investigating environmental issues be better protected in a context often marked by insecurity and pressure? Around twenty media professionals from Mali, Niger, Burkina Faso, and Chad gathered on Monday, June 8, 2026, in N’Djamena to address this very question.
Hosted at the Centre d’Études et de Formation pour le Développement (CEFOD), this regional workshop was organized by Reporters Without Borders (RSF). The initiative aims to strengthen environmental journalists’ knowledge of their rights while equipping them with tools to better handle the risks inherent in their work.
The opening ceremony was chaired by the Minister of Communication and government spokesperson, Gassim Chérif Mahamat. Speaking before participants, he emphasized the crucial role of media in raising public awareness about environmental challenges and advocated for a favorable environment for journalism.
Over the course of the workshop, participants will tackle various themes related to journalists’ legal protection, physical and digital security, and the specific difficulties encountered when covering environmental topics. The discussions will also provide an opportunity to share experiences among professionals from different Sahel countries.
For Ndeye Diary Ba, RSF’s project manager for sub-Saharan Africa, this meeting responds to a growing need to protect journalists specializing in environmental issues. In a region grappling with climate change effects, dwindling natural resources, and insecurity, these professionals are increasingly called upon to inform populations about sensitive matters.
Scheduled to last several days, the workshop is expected to produce recommendations aimed at enhancing the safety of environmental journalists and promoting a more protective legal framework across Sahel nations.
