The 17th General Assembly of the African Union of Broadcasting (AUB), held from 14 to 17 April 2026, concluded on Friday 17 April with a historic decision: the election of Côte d’Ivoire to the rotating presidency of the Executive Council for a two-year term. Marking the 20th anniversary of the institution under the theme “Heritage, Innovation and Transformation,” the summit brought together African media leaders to redefine the continent’s audiovisual landscape in the face of global technological challenges. Côte d’Ivoire succeeds Rwanda, which had led the Executive Council since the end of 2023.
In Gambia, the 17th General Assembly of the UAR concluded on 17 April 2026 in Banjul with the election of Côte d’Ivoire to the presidency for a two-year term. It succeeds Rwanda’s Cléophas Barore, who had chaired the Executive Council since late 2023. David Mobio, representing the Director General of the national broadcaster (RTI), set as a priority the revitalisation of the Union through the exchange of programmes and expertise. The Ivorian mandate also includes a review of regulatory texts to adapt to current technological developments.
“At the end of this UAR General Assembly, Côte d’Ivoire has been elected to the presidency of the UAR. The role we intend to play at the head of the UAR is to revitalise all the Union’s activities. And at the core of UAR activities are exchanges of news, programme sharing and exchanges of experience. We will therefore add value to everything that has already been achieved by the previous president. That is broadly the priority of our action at the head of the UAR.”
David Mobio, Representative of the Director General of RTI – Côte d’Ivoire
The new programme of the Ivorian presidency is part of a drive for deep modernisation. David Mobio announced a review of the texts governing the Union to align them with current realities. This vision is shared by other leaders, such as Chokri Ben Nessir, President and CEO of Tunisian Television, who stresses the urgency for the UAR to be in step with the expectations of African audiences.
“The first priority is to review the texts governing our Union. I am not saying there are shortcomings, but we must evolve in line with current realities. So we will revise the texts, we will emphasise the cooperation we mentioned earlier, particularly in the broadcasting of matches during the World Cup and the Africa Cup of Nations. We will also strengthen the capacities of our technicians and place emphasis on the use of artificial intelligence in our various productions.”David Mobio, Representative of the Director General of RTI – Côte d’Ivoire
“The Union must be aligned with the expectations of African people, especially viewers, particularly regarding broadcasting rights for sporting events such as the AFCON or the World Cup. There is also the monetisation of content and new formats. These new UAR projects are on the table, and they are no small undertaking.”Chokri Ben Nessir, President and CEO of Tunisian Television – Tunisia
The conclusion of the 17th General Assembly in Banjul signals a new, transformative phase for the UAR. This organization, established on October 30, 2006, now boasts 85 members and is focused on a clear objective: to champion an independent and authentic African perspective globally.
