Recommendation 19

HM Government · verbatim extract Not Addressed

Partially Agree. This Government remains steadfast in its commitment to media freedom in Africa and around the world, and we recognise the vital role that journalists play in upholding human rights, supporting accountable governance, and protecting democracy. We have already taken significant steps to protect and promote media freedom globally. In March, the UK took on the co-chair role of the Media Freedom Coalition (MFC). The MFC has an important role to play in strengthening independent journalism, protecting journalists at risk, and addressing emerging digital threats, including in Africa. At a time when independent public interest media is facing multiple threats, from intimidation and censorship to disinformation and financial pressures, we will use our role as co-chair to help the Coalition step up its response. Recognising that influence is not determined by the scale of aid alone, the Government has also committed to a new approach to Africa centred on building modern partnerships that bring mutual benefit. There have been 32 visits by FCDO ministers to Africa since July 2024, including five visits already this year across Mozambique, Somalia, Ethiopia, the DRC, and Chad; our programmes reflect the UK’s role as a partner, investor and champion of reform, demonstrating this new approach in practice. Working with our African partners to support and protect independent media and wider media freedoms in their countries will form part of this new approach, with funding decisions kept under regular review. In recognition of the increasingly dangerous and volatile world we face, and given budgetary constraints, the ISF will focus its resources on delivering the top priorities within the National Security Strategy. In line with this approach, though the ISF has streamlined delivery and consolidated programming in Africa, it will continue to directly counter malign state and hybrid threat activity and bolster the resilience of our African partners. In addition to support for independent media, we also want to highlight government action to disrupt information networks identified as operating in Africa. For example, in July 2025, we imposed sanctions on the African Initiative, a social media content mill established and funded by Russia and employing Russian intelligence officers to conduct information operations in West Africa.