File photo of Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed.
Addis Ababa: Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed on Tuesday launched Pulse of Africa (POA), a pan-African media platform designed to reshape the continent's portrayal in the global media by promoting African narratives and perspectives to international audiences.
The launch of the media platform took place in Addis Ababa, the capital of Ethiopia, and was attended by senior government officials, experts, and media representatives, among others.
Addressing the event, Abiy said the launch of the POA marks a crucial step toward countering negative media representations of the continent.
Africa, despite its vast potential, is often portrayed as smaller and less capable than it truly is, he said, adding that such persistent misrepresentations have historically distorted the global perception of the continent and its people.
Noting the POA's "significant beginning," Abiy projected the platform as a leading continental and global media outlet that will amplify authentic African voices.
Experts and policymakers at the launching event emphasized the media's unique role in fostering African unity and promoting the continent's distinct cultural, historical, socio-economic, and political perspectives globally.
Reaffirming the Ethiopian government's commitment to supporting the platform's core mission, Ethiopian Deputy Prime Minister Temesgen Tiruneh called for championing African agendas through the media.
The POA traces its origins to Abiy's call at the 35th African Union (AU) Summit in February 2022, where he proposed creating a continental media house to augment Africa's media representation on the international stage.
"The stereotypical and negative media representation of Africa not only disinforms the rest of the world about our continent, but also shapes the way we see ourselves as Africans. Telling our own stories and shaping our own narratives must be our top priority," Abiy said during the summit.
