Mamadiarra Diop

“From Military Transitions to Safe Democratic Institutions in West Africa” (October 2024–February 2025)

Mamadiarra Diop is a prominent journalist who served as producer of the United Nations mission radio Mikado FM in Mali from 2016 until its closure by the Malian government in late 2023. A respected advocate for independent media development, she previously served as chief editor of the digital news daily JournalduMali.com, a media outlet providing comprehensive coverage of key political, social, economic, and cultural developments across Mali. From 2016 to 2019, she served as president of the Online Media Publishers and Professionals Association (APPEL MALI), which supports and builds journalists’ capacity. She is the author of three short novels, including Retour à Ceuta et Melilla [Return to Ceuta and Melilla] (2022), a novel on migration issues in West Africa. During her fellowship, Diop is analyzing the factors that might enable democratic transitions and foster peace in West Africa, with a particular focus on the role of the media in consolidating democratic norms and values. The results of her analysis will be incorporated into her plans for establishing a media think tank, which will also focus on promoting the voices of women and youth in media.

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