Participants in the Bamako Forum on Digital and Social Cohesion called on Tuesday, October 13 for digital policies that reflect the Sahel's languages, cultures and security conditions. The approach should involve public authorities, media, civil society and technology platforms, according to the Malian Press Agency.
Search for Common Ground organised the annual meeting in Mali's capital, bringing together institutional representatives, media professionals and technical partners under the auspices of Gaoussou Coulibaly, president of the High Authority for Communication. Discussions examined how platforms circulate information and shape public perceptions, alongside the risks of deepening social divisions associated with their use.
The talks addressed different actors' responsibilities in regulating and using digital spaces, and local capacity to produce content that supports dialogue. The organiser describes the forum as a space for cooperation across sectors, enabling academics and practitioners who are seldom consulted in decision-making to contribute to digital policies in West Africa.
