After leading CJTU as first female President, Marion Obam elected to head Federation of Central African Journalists

After making history as the first woman to lead the Cameroon Journalists’ Trade Union (CJTU) more than two decades after its creation, Marion Obam has once again broken new ground. On 4 April 2025, she was elected as the pioneer President of the newly established Federation of Central African Journalists (FEJAC) during a sub-regional workshop held in Yaoundé, convened by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) and the Federation of African Journalists (FAJ).

Participants at the Yaoundé gathering 

Her election by consensus crowns years of service to press freedom, media workers’ rights, and journalistic excellence, not only in Cameroon but across Central Africa. With this new role, Marion Obam becomes the first woman to lead a regional journalists’ federation in the sub-region, signalling a major shift in gender representation within media leadership.

FEJAC brings together journalist unions and media workers’ organisations from across Central Africa. The federation’s core mandate is to promote the rights, safety, and professional standards of journalists and related media workers, while reinforcing solidarity and collaboration across borders. It also serves as the regional arm of the FAJ, committed to defending freedom of expression and strengthening the protection of media professionals in a region often challenged by political and institutional pressures.

Marion Obam CJTU President 

Marion Obam’s leadership has been widely recognised for its firmness, inclusiveness, and forward-thinking approach. Her trailblazing role in both national, international and now regional structures serves as an inspiration for women in media and journalism and a reminder of the essential role journalists play in upholding democracy and accountability.

As FEJAC begins its work under her stewardship, media professionals and observers alike are optimistic that the federation will bring renewed energy to the fight for a safer and more dignified working environment for journalists and related media workers throughout Central Africa.

Marion Obam and FAJ committee members 

Marion Obam is currently member of the of the executive committees of the Federation of African Journalists (FAJ) and the International Federation of Journalists (IFJ)

By Bakah Derick 

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