The Mauritanian Journalists’ Union honoured dozens of veteran journalists working in public and private media organisations at a ceremony held at its new headquarters in the capital, Nouakchott.
The ceremony took place on Sunday evening, 26 November 2017, to mark the fifty-seventh anniversary of Independence Day under the theme “Meeting of journalistic generations”. The Union’s new headquarters was also inaugurated alongside the ceremony.
Journalists’ Union President Mohamed Salem Ould Dah said the ceremony aimed to strengthen relations among successive generations whose contributions had served the country and its citizens, consolidating what he described as the great strides made by the state in press freedom and the independence of the audiovisual sphere in our country.
The Secretary-General of the Ministry of Relations with Parliament and Civil Society highlighted the press’s professional, ethical and human responsibility, noting its role in guiding and enlightening society.
The ceremony was attended by the Secretary-General of the High Authority for the Press and Audiovisual Media, the Mayor of Tevragh Zeina, the Secretary-General of the National Commission for Education, Culture and Science, the Chair of the journalism ethics committee and the President of the Union of Websites, along with dozens of journalists.
The following is a list of prominent honourees at the ceremony:
Veteran Mohamed Mahmoud Ould Wedadi — National radio
Veteran and first technician Abdou Ould Mohamed El Hadj..... National radio
Veteran Dehen Hammoud...... National radio
Mr El Hacen Ould Moulay Ely... National radio, director of the first programming schedule.
Kaber Hachem.... National radio
Mohamed Abdallah Bezeid.... National radio
Mokhtar Lissan Eddine.... National radio
Salka Bent Asneid.... National radio
Esseni Abdao.... Radio, cultural programmes
Abbas Diaby... presenter of Soninke news bulletins.... National radio
Abdallah Sire Ba.... presenter of Pulaar news bulletins.... National radio
Mamoud Kane..... presenter of Wolof news bulletins... National radio
Echaab newspaper
Mohamed Yahdhih Ould Breideleil... French-language Echaab newspaper
El Khalil Ould Ennahoui... Arabic-language Echaab newspaper
Mohamed El Hafez Ould Meham... Arabic-language Echaab newspaper
Cheikh Bekkaye.. Echaab newspaper
Mauritanian Press Agency
Mohamed Ould Babettah... editor-in-chief of the French-language edition
Sidi Brahim Sidat.... editor-in-chief of the Arabic-language edition
Mauritanian News Agency
El Hacen Ould Ahmed... editor-in-chief
Saleh Ould Obeidallah... editor-in-chief
Mamouni Ould El Mokhtar.... journalist
Mohamed El Amine Ould Sidi, journalist
Mohamed El Mokhtar Ould M’Barek, known as Bangoko... first photojournalist at the Mauritanian Press Agency
Mauritanian Television
Yeslem Ould Ibn Abdem... head of the first Mauritanian television project
Brahim Ould Abdallah.... journalist and former director of Mauritanian Television
Raki Sy... first television news presenter
Mariem Bent Yahya.. among the first female directors at Mauritanian Television
Mariem Bent Beyrouk... among the first female directors at Mauritanian Television
Knein Ould Ahmed... among the first cameramen at Mauritanian Television
Independent press
Tehi Bent Lahbib... founder of the Woman of Society newspaper
Abbah Ould Salek...
Mohamed Vall Ould Oumeir... French-language Al Bayan newspaper
Sy Mamoud.... editor-in-chief of La Vie Hebdo
El Houssein Ould Mahand... editor-in-chief of the Arabic-language Al Bayan newspaper
El Weli Ould Sidi Heiba... editor-in-chief of Ezzeman newspaper
Zeinebou Bent Ejed... director of the Akhbar El Ousbou newspaper
Mohamed Ould Khattat... journalist at El Qafila newspaper
Abdallah Mamadou Ba... journalist writing the “On the Margins” column in Al Bayan newspaper