The International Federation of Journalists’ congress opened in Oman’s capital, Muscat, on Tuesday morning 31 May 2022, under the title “Congress 31”, with the participation of Mauritanian Journalists’ Union President Mr Ahmed Taleb Ould Maâloum.
The congress, which runs from 31 May to 3 June 2022, brings together more than 100 countries.
Participants discussed various journalism issues, foremost among them press freedom and restrictions faced by those working in journalism around the world amid successive global crises in which dozens of journalists died and many others were imprisoned. Discussion also covered the aftermath of the coronavirus crisis and its economic consequences for press businesses, which in many cases led to newspapers ceasing publication and others experiencing reduced performance.
The congress gave the Mauritanian Journalists’ Union President an opportunity to meet several International Federation of Journalists leaders and discuss his Union’s main concerns. He also met several counterparts heading organisations and unions affiliated with the Federation.
The congress agenda is scheduled to include renewing the Federation’s Executive Board membership for a new three-year term.
The Sultanate of Oman is the first Gulf and Middle Eastern country to host this event, and the second Arab country after Tunisia, where the previous congress was held in 2019.