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Journalists confront rising influence of digital traffickers
A poster used in campaigns against human trafficking.
Media leaders from across Eastern Africa have called for stronger public interest reporting on migration. They warn that misinformation and misleading narratives about life abroad are driving many Africans into dangerous migration journeys, leaving them vulnerable to exploitation and human trafficking.
Omar Faruk Osman, President of the Federation of African Journalists, said that journalists have a responsibility to provide citizens with accurate information about migration, including the opportunities and risks associated with moving across borders.
"Journalism has a responsibility to provide people with accurate information. Too often, many young people are exposed to misleading narratives that portray opportunities abroad while concealing the dangers associated with irregular migration. Our role is to help people make informed choices and to ensure that public debate is guided by facts rather than disinformation and misinformation," said Mr Osman.
He noted that migration remains a legitimate choice for many people seeking employment and better livelihoods, but stressed that decisions should be based on reliable information rather than false promises.
"The objective is not to discourage migration. People will always move in search of opportunities and decent work. The challenge is to ensure that they have access to accurate information and understand both the opportunities and the risks involved. Journalists have a duty to protect information integrity and help communities make informed decisions," he said.
Mr Osman spoke during a regional meeting in Mombasa, which commenced on Thursday, 18 June 2026, that brought together media professionals and journalists' union leaders from 10 countries to examine how the media can promote informed migration decisions while highlighting economic opportunities available within Africa.
The three-day forum, organised by the Federation of African Journalists (FAJ) in partnership with the Federation of Eastern Africa Journalists (FEAJ) and hosted by the Kenya Union of Journalists (KUJ), has attracted participants from Comoros, Djibouti, Ethiopia, Kenya, Rwanda, Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan, Tanzania and Uganda.
The meeting comes at a time when migration remains a major social and economic issue across the continent. Eastern Africa serves as one of Africa's most active migration corridors, functioning simultaneously as a region of origin, transit and destination for migrant workers and people seeking better opportunities.
Experts informed regional participants about the rising influence of traffickers, smugglers, and online misinformation networks that promote unrealistic migration expectations while obscuring the dangers migrants face.
The three-day forum, organised by the Federation of African Journalists (FAJ) in partnership with the Federation of Eastern Africa Journalists (FEAJ) and hosted by the Kenya Union of Journalists (KUJ), has attracted participants from Comoros, Djibouti, Ethiopia, Kenya, Rwanda, Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan, Tanzania and Uganda.
The meeting comes at a time when migration remains a major social and economic issue across the continent. Eastern Africa serves as one of Africa's most active migration corridors, functioning simultaneously as a region of origin, transit and destination for migrant workers and people seeking better opportunities.
According to delegates, many migrants continue to encounter abuse, exploitation, detention, trafficking and life-threatening conditions after embarking on irregular migration routes based on misleading information.
Discussions focused on the need for the media to report more extensively on opportunities available within African countries and across the region.
Media practitioners argued that public discourse often highlights opportunities overseas while overlooking employment, entrepreneurship, vocational training, innovation and legal labour mobility pathways available closer to home.
Delegates said balanced reporting should help audiences understand both the realities of migration and the growing economic opportunities emerging across Eastern Africa.
Beyond migration reporting, the forum is serving as a platform for journalists' organisations to exchange experiences on media freedom, journalists' safety, advocacy strategies and organisational development.
Participants also discussed ways to strengthen regional cooperation in responding to attacks on journalists, countering misinformation and disinformation, preserving information integrity and reinforcing professional standards in the media sector.
The meeting is supported by the International Labour Organization (ILO) through the Better Regional Migration Management (BRMM) Programme, funded by the United Kingdom's Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO).
Organisers say the initiative seeks to advance public interest journalism by strengthening journalists' capacity to report responsibly on migration and labour mobility while promoting balanced, evidence-based narratives that support informed public debate.
Participants aim to ensure migration stories are reported accurately and humanely, enabling citizens to make fact-based decisions instead of relying on false promises.
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