President of the Atlantic Federation of African Press Agencies (FAAPA), Mr Arif Fouad, urged African media to help build an inclusive society through the pooling of resources and shared knowledge.

Opening  the Federation’s 9th General Assembly in Marrakech, Mr Fouad said African press agencies must consciously promote territorial inclusion and spatial justice as Africa undergoes profound economic, social and technological change.

He is also Director-General of the Maghreb Arab Press Agency.

He said development could not be sustainable or stabilising if sections of the continent and segments of the population remained excluded from progress, emphasising the media’s responsibility to bridge such divides.

Thus, the General Assembly is being held on the theme: “Territorial Inclusion and Spatial Justice: African Press Agencies at the Heart of the Continent’s Transformations.”

Mr Fouad said the theme reflected FAAPA’s conviction that information was a strategic tool for reducing territorial imbalances, strengthening social cohesion and ensuring that development narratives reflected the realities of all communities.

He referenced the Vision of King Mohammed VI, Head of the Kingdom of Morocco, which calls for integrated territorial development founded on equity, solidarity and equal access to opportunity.

Quoting from the King’s Throne Speech of July 29, 2025, Mr Fouad recalled the Sovereign’s call for a decisive shift in development thinking.

“The time has come to initiate a genuine leap forward in the overall upgrading of territorial spaces and in redressing social and spatial disparities,” the King stated.

“Our objective is that, without distinction or exclusion, and in any region whatsoever, the fruits of progress and development benefit all citizens,” the King added.

Mr Fouad also cited a recent Royal Communiqué reaffirming Morocco’s commitment to Africa’s shared prosperity through cooperation and the pooling of resources.

“In line with the Sovereign’s Enlightened Vision, Morocco will continue its determined and steadfast commitment to a united and prosperous Africa, notably through the mutual sharing of its experiences, expertise, and know-how,” the King said.

Mr Fouad said African press agencies were not mere conveyors of information but actors shaping public space, capable of amplifying the voices of marginalised territories, supporting citizen engagement and strengthening trust between institutions and the public.

FAAPA, he said, served as a continental platform for cooperation among Atlantic African press agencies, enabling the pooling of professional experiences, joint reflection and the emergence of a shared African narrative rooted in inclusion, cohesion and credibility.

The Assembly is also examining health sovereignty as a foundation for spatial justice, highlighting equitable access to healthcare, skills development and resilient systems as critical to balanced territorial development.

Morocco’s Minister of Youth, Culture and Communication, Mr Mehdi Bensaïd, said information and communication were essential pillars of territorial cohesion and social stability, particularly at a time of rapid economic, demographic and digital change.

He said spatial justice went beyond infrastructure and investment to include fair visibility of territories in the public space, noting that the professionalism, credibility and territorial grounding of press agencies remained vital to quality public debate and social cohesion.

The Minister said Morocco’s development model, under the leadership of King Mohammed VI, placed territorial equity, human capital development and the reduction of spatial disparities at the heart of public policy.

This is in line with the Kingdom’s commitment to South-South cooperation.

The second day of the General Assembly will feature the election of members of FAAPA’s Executive Council, as well as the presentation of awards to winners of the 2025 FAAPA Grand Prix Competition, which recognises excellence in African press agency journalism.

FAAPA, which brings together African Atlantic press agencies, has over the years promoted professional exchanges, joint training programmes and coordinated editorial initiatives to strengthen Africa’s information space.

The Federation continues to position itself as a platform for cooperation and anticipation, committed to using credible information to advance inclusive development, spatial justice and continental cohesion.