Guinea assumes leadership of PRA-UEMOA media regulators

The 12th General Assembly of the Platform of Audiovisual Regulators of UEMOA member countries and Guinea (PRA-UEMOA-Guinée) opened in Conakry on August 31, 2026. The assembly focuses on the regulation of social media in the face of cybersecurity challenges, disinformation, and the preservation of social cohesion.

During the proceedings, Aboubacar Yacine Diallo, President of Guinea’s Haute Autorité de la Communication (HAC), announced that Guinea will assume the presidency of the platform for the next two years, succeeding Togo. Diallo emphasized that regulation should serve as a “shield for freedoms and a vector for social peace” rather than a tool for censorship. He highlighted the need for harmonized regional responses to combat hate speech, cybercrime, and the proliferation of false information facilitated by digital platforms.

In a separate leadership transition, General Birame Diop of Senegal officially assumed the presidency of the ECOWAS Commission in Abuja, succeeding Dr. Omar Alieu Touray for the 2026-2030 term. Diop called for regional unity and institutional efficiency to address security and integration challenges in West Africa.