African Peace and Security Dialogue: Media and Controversial Soundbites
The second African Peace and Security Dialogue (APSD), hosted by the Thabo Mbeki Foundation in September, was a continental event, not limited to South Africa as some media outlets reported.
South Africa faces the challenge of creating controversial soundbites, prioritizing story-selling over ethical journalism and informing citizens.
The dialogue's context was distorted by certain South African media houses, which referred to it as the "South Africa's peace and security dialogue". This may be due to a lack of understanding of the continent's peace and security architecture and challenges.
As an invited delegate who participated in both dialogues of 2024 and 2025, I should assist the media in providing essential information and reflective clarity to my fellow Africans.
The author aims to provide clarity and information to Africans about the dialogue.
Author's summary: African Peace and Security Dialogue faces media challenges.