MEDIA ADVISORY NOTE FOR THE FIRST MID-YEAR COORDINATION MEETING OF THE AFRICAN UNION (AU) AND THE REGIONAL ECONOMIC COMMUNITIES (RECs) AND 12TH EXTRAORDINARY SUMMIT ON AfCFTA

NIAMEY, NIGER

THEME OF THE YEAR

“Refugees, Returnees and Internally Displaced Persons: Towards Durable Solutions to Forced Displacement in Africa”

Important Dates and Venue:

17th – 18th June 2019: 38th Ordinary Session of the Permanent Representatives’ Committee (PRC), Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

4th – 5th July 2019: 35th Ordinary Session of the Executive Council, Niamey, Niger.

7th July 2019: 12th Extraordinary Session of the Assembly of the Union on African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), Niamey, Niger.

8th July 2019: First Mid-Year Coordination Meeting of the African Union and the Regional Economic Communities, Niamey, Niger.

NOT FOR PUBLICATION OR BROADCAST

THIS ADVISORY IS SUBJECT TO UPDATES

1. ACCREDITATION FOR MEDIA PERSONNEL BASED OUTSIDE NIGER

All journalists will apply online. The media accreditation form is available on: https://au.int/en/summit/accreditation
 
Once journalists receive confirmation of their successful application from the Directorate of Information and Communication (DIC), they should print it and, along with their application documents and passport copy, take it to Niger Embassy in their residence country. Documents should be taken to the PUBLIC DIPLOMACY CENTER and not the visa center.

The documents will be processed by the Niger government authorities though their channels and journalists will receive their visas from their points of application.

All journalists will be issued with journalist visas. No journalist will be allowed to attend the summit on a business or tourist visa.

ACCREDITATION FOR JOURNALISTS APPLYING FROM COUNTRIES WHERE THERE IS NO NIGER EMBASSY
Journalists from countries where there is no Niger embassy should fill in the visa on arrival form available on the AU website: https://au.int/en/documents/20190523/visa-arrival-request-form

Once received, DIC will forward it to the Niger Government Communication Authority for processing as per the regulations.

ACCREDITATION FOR JOURNALISTS WHO ARE ON MISSION IN COUNTRIES WHERE THERE IS NO NIGER EMBASSY

Media personnel who are on mission where there is no Niger embassy should observe the following regulations:

Their organization should facilitate the process for them. Their residence card should be attached to their application documents.

They should go, in person, to collect their visa from their country of residence.

Three methods of accreditation are available for journalists applying from outside Niger.

1.1. Online system:

The online accreditation form is available at: https://au.int/en/summit/accreditation

1.2. E-mail:

After completing the accreditation form, the form and scanned copies of all the required documents should be sent via e-mail to Mr. Molalet Tsedeke on: AUsummit@africa-union.org

1.3. Mail and fax:

After completing the accreditation form, the form and all the required documents should be sent to:

Mr. Molalet Tsedeke

Directorate of Information and Communication African Union Commission
PO Box 3243 Addis Ababa Ethiopia

Tel:+251115182014 +251115182558:
E-mail: AUSummit@africa-union.org

Required documents to accompany application form

¥ One passport size photograph not more than six months old;

¥ A letter of assignment on a letterhead from the journalist’s organization indicating his/ her function;

¥ Copy of a valid professional press card or equivalent identification

It is also advisable to carry hard copies of all the required documents in case of any necessary checks. Applications should reach the Directorate of Information and Communication before 25 June 2019.

2. ACCREDITATION FOR MEDIA PERSONNEL BASED IN NIGER

All media personnel operating from and within Niger must apply for accreditation through the Government Communication Authority by providing the following information:

¥ Passport copy

¥ Letter of assignment from the media house

¥ Current media/ press badge

¥ One passport size photo

The above information must be provided before 25th June 2019 to the following officials:

Niger AU Communication Agency (Niger)

Mr. Oumar Samba Tiello
Head, Department of Communication
Republic of Niger
Tel: +22780435424
E-mail: o.tiello@agenceua-niger2019.ne

3. WHAT TO DO IN NIGER

Journalists will need to get two badges.

3.1. The Government press badge will be issued by the Niger government authorities. Journalists will be advised in due course of the accreditation venue. This badge will allow access into the conference venue.

3.2. AU Conference badge: After getting the government issued press badge, journalists will need to go to the summit venue to get their conference badges. This badge will give them access into the conference rooms during the summit.

3.3. Journalists are advised to make sure they arrive in Niger in good time so as to have the documentation done before the meetings start.

3.4. Journalists are also advised to arrive at summit venues early to ensure that they clear all entry procedures before the meetings start.

4. YELLOW FEVER CARDS

4.1. Yellow fever cards will be required at the ports of entry for everyone travelling from yellow fever designated countries.

5. CUSTOMS CLEARANCE FOR MEDIA EQUIPMENT

Accredited media personnel bringing technical equipment with them to Niger will be subject to full Customs Control. Journalists are requested to send their list of equipment together with their application for accreditation. (See media equipment form on the AU website).

Journalists wishing to bring in live broadcasting equipment or to request live transmission facilities should contact:

Mr. Oumar Samba Tiello
Head, Department of Communication
Republic of Niger
Tel: +22780435424
E-mail: o.tiello@agenceua-niger2019.ne

6. MEDIA FACILITIES

A media center with facilities for print, laptops, cable and wifi internet, audio feed distribution point, photocopier, etc…will be available at the summit venue. Access to media facilities will be available only to accredited media representatives.

7. REQUESTS FOR INTERVIEWS WITH AUC LEADERSHIP

Journalists wishing to interview the leadership of the AU Commission during the First Mid-Year Coordination Meeting should submit their request/s to Mr. Molalet Tsedeke; Directorate of Information and Communication molalett@africa-union.org; Tel: +251-911-630631.

8. MEDIA BRIEFINGS BY AU LEADERSHIP

Briefings by the leadership of the AU Commission; Member States and various African Union organs and programmes will take place at the conference center. Journalists will be given advance notice of the briefing time, venue and speakers.

9. MEDIA COVERAGE OF THE MEETING

Opening and closing sessions during the meetings are open to journalists, depending on availability of space within the meeting rooms. Media practitioners will be informed on how to enter the plenary halls in the following ways:

a. A guideline will be circulated to all media through the AU database and on the AU website.
b. Through regular media notice in the press center.

A briefing session will be held for all media during the Summit. A notice will be circulated regarding the time and date of the briefing.

10. LIVE STREAMING

Opening sessions, press conferences and official closing ceremony of the event will be streaming live. The live stream link will be disseminated closer to the dates for information and for the public to follow live through the AU website worldwide.

These feeds will be available through the media centre. Media will also be notified of all meetings that will be live streamed via the AU website and notices posted in the media center.

11. TELEPHONES AND FAXES

Telephone facilities will be available on a commercial basis.

12. TELEVISION AND RADIO

Media will be notified if live links to their national broadcasters will be available. Inquiries in this regard should be sent to

Mr. Oumar Samba Tiello
Head, Department of Communication
Republic of Niger
Tel: +22780435424
E-mail: o.tiello@agenceua-niger2019.ne

13. ACCOMMODATION

Accommodation will be on self-arrangement/sponsor basis. Journalists are advised to make their booking early to avoid last minute inconveniences. A list of hotels in Niger will soon be available on the African Union website.

14. COMMUNICATIONS ENQUIRIES

General enquiries on the arrangements made for the media during the meeting should be directed to Mrs. Wynne Musabayana, Head of Communication at the AUC, E-mail: MUSABAYANAW@africa-union.org