Deyda Hydara, Chief Manneh honoured

The African Editors Forum (TAEF) Thursday honoured the late Deyda Hydara and "disappeared" journalist Chief Ebrima Manneh with the "Hero of African Journalism Award" at a gala dinner held in Hotel Amitie, Bamako, Mali, under the patronage of His Excellency Ahmadou Toumani Toure, President of Mali.

Deyda and Chief Manneh were honoured alongside distinguished and honourable African leaders considered 'friends of the media' namely, former president Nelson Mandela, President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, and former presidents Thabo Mbeki, John Kuffour and Alpha Oumar Konare for their efforts in building transparent societies, as well as promoting and implementing media-friendly policies in their countries, institutions and across Africa.

The three-day TAEF bi-annual conference and congress was held this year under the theme: "Media and the Challenge of Peace in Africa".

Speaking earlier at the opening ceremony, Ahmadou Toumani Toure, President of Mali and Chief Patron of the event, expressed delight that of recent media institutions have targeted Mali as the host for their organizations and activities, because of its friendliness to the media and efforts being made by his government to implement and build on existing positive media laws.

"I have personally been involved in the planning of this meeting, which brings together 200 editors and journalists from all over Africa, and given orders to the departments of Foreign Affairs and Communications to ensure the smooth and successful hosting of this meeting. I am pleased to welcome you here in Mali, your home," he said.

Deyda Hydara's award was received by his daughter, Marie Pierre Hydara, and Musa Manneh, brother of Chief Ebrima Manneh, represented the Manneh family.