Official AU Press Release:
UNGA81 High-Level Information Integrity Solutions Dialogue

About this Official Publication

This publication presents the official press release issued by the African Union Commission (AUC) Information & Communication Directorate regarding the high-level Information Integrity Solutions Dialogue: “From Global Principles to Collective Action,” held on the margins of the 81st Session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA81) in New York.

The event was jointly organized by the United Nations Department of Global Communication (DGC), the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), and the Government of Brazil, with high-level African leadership and participation.

The authoritative, original African Union Commission document is published below in its entirety. Visitors can read all pages directly through the interactive browser viewer or download the official PDF for archival, scholarly, and diplomatic reference.

Key Highlights from the Official AU Press Release

• High-Level African Representation: The Ambassador of the Republic of Cameroon to the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia and Permanent Representative to the African Union and UNECA, H.E. Churchill Ewumbue-Monono, participated alongside Mrs. Esther Azaa Yambou Tankou (Head of the Media and Information Division, AUC, and Communication Adviser to the Permanent Observer Mission of the AU to the UN) and Mr. Omar Faruk (President of the Federation of African Journalists - FAJ).
• AU Peace and Security Council Leadership: Ambassador Ewumbue-Monono provided updates on the AU Peace and Security Council (AUPSC) meeting held on 14 November 2025 under Cameroon’s leadership, emphasizing the critical importance of information integrity and media sovereignty in Africa.
• Upcoming Deliberation on 9 October 2026: The Cameroon Ambassador officially announced that, under Cameroon’s chairmanship, the AUPSC will deliberate on “Information Integrity, Peace and Security in Africa” on October 9, 2026.
• Media Sovereignty and Accountable Regulation: The press release notes that media sovereignty enables countries, the African Union, and regional institutions to shape information policies according to their own legal frameworks, cultures, and security needs—strengthening information integrity by supporting local journalism, accountable regulation, and protection against foreign manipulation.
• Balancing Sovereignty with Media Freedom: The AU document cautions that if sovereignty is used to restrict independent media or control narratives, it undermines integrity by encouraging censorship and misinformation. Effective collective action therefore requires balancing national authority with transparency, media freedom, independent fact-checking, cross-border cooperation, and shared standards.
• Essential Pillars for Information Integrity: Ensuring that information shared across borders is accurate, reliable, transparent, independent, and resistant to manipulation requires international cooperation to:
  • Counter disinformation, misinformation, and foreign interference.
  • Protect independent journalism and freedom of expression.
  • Promote media and digital literacy.
  • Strengthen fact-checking and responsible platform governance.
  • Improve transparency in artificial intelligence and online communications.
  • Develop shared international standards while respecting national sovereignty and human rights.

“Trust grows when people see that information is evidence-based, transparent, independently scrutinized, and responsive to public concerns.” — Head of the Media and Information Division, Directorate of Information and Communication, African Union Commission