Journalists Hold Memorial for Eritrea 16 at AIJC 2026
Journalists held a memorial of 16 Eritrea journalist at AIJC 2026 in Nairobi, honouring the Eritrea 16 during the Carlos Cardoso Memorial Lecture.
Journalists held a memorial of 16 Eritrea journalist colleagues at AIJC 2026, giving the Nairobi gathering a powerful moral focus. The tribute centres on the Eritrea 16, a group of reporters arrested when independent media was silenced in Eritrea.
This year marks 25 years since that crackdown. Delegates see the moment as a call to remember, to document and to act.
What is Happening at the Conference
The African Investigative Journalism Conference is the largest gathering of working journalists on the continent. Its 22nd edition runs from 10 to 12 November 2026 in Nairobi. The programme includes the annual Carlos Cardoso Memorial Lecture, which honours courage in reporting.
This year’s keynote was delivered by Eritrean journalist, writer, poet and free expression advocate Yirgalem Fisseha. Her address connected journalism with memory, she shared her journey since her first arrest in Eritrea, torture in prison and her success in exile to Uganda after several attempts.
Fisseha also got to share an emotional letter directed to one of her mentor held, out of the 16, describing a life of Success that she would wish they had and reminiscing on prison days in comparison to how it feels 25 years later for him. This placed the stories of the detained reporters before the whole room. Organisers described the lecture as timely and deeply relevant for investigative reporters across Africa while most Journalists applauded her for boldness.
Who Are the Eritrea 16?
The Eritrea 16 are journalists who remain imprisoned without trial and held incommunicado. Their families have waited a quarter of a century for answers about where they are. The Committee to Protect Journalists has announced it will honour the group with its 2026 International Press Freedom Award. It has also called on Eritrean authorities to explain what happened to them.
Press freedom groups welcomed the recognition. PEN Eritrea said the award keeps global attention on the journalists and on the families who campaign for them.
AIJC 2026 Dates, Venue and Reach
For AIJC 2026 dates, the conference is currently ongoing from 10 to 12 November 2026. The event leaves Johannesburg for the first time in its history to Nairobi as the new host city, with sessions at the Edge Convention Centre. The Aga Khan University Graduate School of Media and Communications is hosting the African Investigative Journalism Conference AIJC 2026.
The reach of the event is impressive as Organisers say about 450 investigative journalists from 50 countries are attending. Top speakers from 17 countries are also joining the programme. That mix of newsroom leaders, freelancers and press freedom advocates makes the memorial especially meaningful.
Why the Memorial Matters for Kenya and Africa
Hosting the conference gives Kenya’s media community a chance to show leadership. Local reporters can learn from peers who work under greater pressure. Many delegates described the tribute as a reminder that investigative work depends on solidarity. When one journalist is silenced, the whole profession has a duty to speak.
The setting also encourages practical action. Journalists can share safety tips, cross-border collaboration methods and legal support contacts. They can also keep the names of the Eritrea 16 visible in future coverage. Newsrooms that report on these cases will also help in keeping public memory alive.
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Looking Ahead
The memorial leaves a lasting mark on the AIJC 2026 programme, it shows that a professional conference can be both a training ground and a place of conscience. Delegates leave Nairobi with new skills and fresh contacts, and especially they get to leave with a renewed promise to defend colleagues who cannot speak for themselves.
The Eritrea 16 may remain behind bars, yet their story is reaching a wider audience. Each tribute, award and lecture strengthens the case for their release. Journalists in attendance Globally have made it clear that the profession will not forget them and are looking to raise awareness and sensitize on the Story.
