A group of around twenty media professionals from Mali, Niger, Burkina Faso, and Chad gathered on Monday, June 8, 2026, in N’Djamena to explore how to better protect journalists covering environmental issues in a region often marked by insecurity and pressure.

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 manage the risks inherent in their work.

The opening ceremony was chaired by the Minister of Communication and government spokesman, Gassim Chérif Mahamat. Addressing participants, he emphasized the crucial role of media in raising public awareness of environmental challenges and called for a favorable environment for journalism.

Throughout the sessions, participants will tackle several themes, including legal protection for journalists, physical and digital security, and the specific difficulties encountered when covering environmental topics. The exchanges 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 addresses a growing need to protect journalists specializing in environmental reporting. In a region grappling with climate change effects, dwindling natural resources, and insecurity, these professionals are increasingly called upon to inform the public about sensitive issues.

Spanning several days, the workshop is expected to produce recommendations to bolster the safety of environmental journalists and promote a more protective legal framework across Sahel nations.