.The President of the Publishers Association of Liberia (PAL) and the publisher of Heritage Newspaper departed the country over weekend for the second edition of the Paris Ministerial Conference on Peacekeeping in Francophone Environments.
Mr. Alphonso Toweh and Mr. Kanneh will join other distinguished panelists and journalists drawn from different parts of the Continent for the global gathering slated to be held May 20, 2026 in Rabat, Morocco.
The Rabat Conference takes place a decade after the first Paris ministerial conference on peacekeeping in Francophone environments held in Paris, France in 2016.
According to organizers, it is being convened to address what organizers call a fundamental transformation in the conflicts where peacekeepers operate.
According to Conference draft concept note, the meeting is a response to “acute political and security instability” in complex environments, particularly across Africa, where most UN peacekeeping missions are deployed.
The document records how peacekeeping missions now face with disruptive technologies, the proliferation of disinformation, and the impact of climate change.
It added that “Organized crime has also expanded in affected regions, further complicating mandates.”
“These transformations have revealed the limitations of existing peacekeeping operation frameworks, creating an increasing gap between planning frameworks and field operations,” the note states.
The result, organizers say, is a need to strengthen anticipation, adaptation, and performance capabilities to better align mission mandates, troop capacities, and realities on the ground. “The process is meant to follow commitments made under the UN’s Pact for the Future and ongoing mandate rationalization efforts,” the note further captured.
It is stated that Francophone countries play a central role in current peacekeeping, with nearly 20,000 military and police personnel deployed, mostly in Africa.
The conference aims to mobilize renewed commitment from the international community and the Francophonie to ensure affected territories move toward peace, security, and development.
According to the note, efforts to strengthen peacekeeping have included increasing the participation of women in leadership and field roles.
Citing UN Security Council Resolution 1325, the note says female participation in peacekeeping rose from 4.9% in 2010 to 10.1% in 2025, though it stresses the need to accelerate progress.
“The primary goal of the May 2026 meeting is to give Francophone countries a platform to develop a common understanding of current challenges and contribute more effectively to multilateral debates in international bodies,” the note said.
the objective of the conference include, providing an updated assessment of peacekeeping in Francophone environments and identifying emerging and persistent threats, prioritizing pre-deployment training to improve performance and results on the ground, and promoting more inclusive participation in peacekeeping operations.
Organizers said the conference will open with a ministerial segment and three panel discussions focused on the current status of missions and emerging threats; training as a driver of performance against multi-dimensional threats; and partnerships to reinforce state commitment to security imperatives.
Organizers expect the meeting to conclude with the adoption of the Paris Declaration, alongside a summary of panel discussions and contributions from participants.
The conference builds on the 2016 Paris meeting, which first brought Francophone countries together to address the specific challenges of operating in French-speaking conflict zones.
“With missions now operating in more volatile and complex settings, Paris 2026 is positioned as a push to close the gap between UN mandates and operational reality,” the note read..
Mr. TOWEH said the Liberian media is gradually drowning and it is about time to build partnerships, seek for opportunities from friendly nations .
“This is not about capacity building alone,, but practical improvement that will elevate the media to a much better level in the supreme interest of the country,’ Mr. TOWEH said .
