COP22 in the Spotlight of African News Agencies

Marrakech, 10/11/2016 (MAP) – The 22nd Conference of Parties (COP22) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), which is a COP for Africa, enjoys wide media coverage, especially from news agencies of the continent.

Thanks to a new initiative of the Atlantic Federation of African Press Agencies (FAAPA), which is chaired by the Moroccan News Agency (MAP), FAAPA members shed light during this global environmental event on key challenges for the future of African countries, particularly those vulnerable to the effects of climate change.

In a statement to MAP, journalists, members of FAAPA delegation, hailed this initiative which allows them to be at the heart of this key event on climate change and make the voice of the continent heard on issues of primary concern for the continent.

Dalatou Malam Mamane, managing editor of the Nigerian News Agency (ANP) lauded this good initiative that allowed him and other journalists to be present in this Conference that is meant to operationalize the Paris Agreement on climate, which entered into force on November 4th.

Another member of the FAAPA delegation to the COP22, journalist Hadje Bintou Kachallah, from the Chadian Agency of Press and Publishing (ATPE), thanked the FAAPA that gives her the opportunity to cover this global event, which is of paramount importance especially for her country as it has just ratified the Paris Agreement.

Morocco and Chad have a good cooperation that should be increased in the field of the fight against the effects of global warming, she said, noting that as a Sahelian country, Chad is particularly affected by this phenomenon and needs the support of Morocco, especially in the field of agriculture, which is a vulnerable sector.

For his part, Isaac Makanga, editor in chief of Gabon’s News Agency (AGP), said he is very happy to be part of the FAAPA delegation to cover the COP22, a key event for the future of the globe.

He also praised Morocco’s decision to regain its place within the African Union (AU).