A Collective Voice for African Journalists

The Federation of African Journalists is the regional organization of IFJ affiliates in Africa – providing a vital collective voice in defence of the social and professional rights of all African journalists.

Founded in 2007, FAJ provides support and solidarity to unions and associations with a mandate to promote trade union development in the media industry in Africa, to address professional issues, to protect and defend freedom of expression and the right to information as well as journalists’ human rights, as laid down in the Declaration of Principles of Freedom of Expression in Africa.

FAJ, as the largest organisation of African journalists, is a vital representative voice at a Pan-African level, speaking for journalists at the United Nations, UNESCO and AU.

FAJ activities are governed by its constitution adopted by the triennial Congress which also elects a steering committee and officers.

The last FAJ Congress took place in Khartoum in December 2018 and elected its President and Steering Committee.

Regional voices

FAJ has also helped to establish regional groups within Africa to foster solidarity.

WAJA: West Africa Journalists Association

Representing members of journalists’ trade unions and associations from the fifteen ECOWAS countries and Mauritania, WAJA provides a common platform and meeting point for West African journalists' unions to carry out joint actions in defence of media freedom and the free and uncensored flow of information.

WAJA's key objectives are:

  • Respect for fundamental human rights including respect for freedom of expression and freedom of the press.
  • Improvement of access to information and its circulation.
  • Skilled, knowledgeable and ethical journalists who carry out their work without fear.
  • Improvement of the working conditions of journalists.
  • Unity, solidarity and cooperation among journalists at the national, regional and international levels.

Eastern African Journalists Association

EAJA unites journalists' unions from 9 countries and leads the fight for freedom of expression and the respect for freedom of association for journalists throughout the region.

Launched in 2007 in Djibouti, EAJA has observer status at the African Union and working relations with the Inter-Governmental Authority on Development (IGAD), campaigns to preserve and promote freedom of expression and of the press, and to protect and promote the rights and interests of journalists and other media workers.