Anita Chidiogo Icheka
The Gaza conflict has once again forced the world to reckon with the power and responsibility of the media during times of war. Across continents, newsrooms are working around the clock to document the humanitarian catastrophe, the political maneuvers, and the human stories emerging from the rubble. Yet, while international outlets such as the BBC, CNN, and Al Jazeera dominate much of the global narrative, Africa’s own media ecosystem has played a quieter, more complicated role in shaping how its citizens perceive the conflict. The African media’s coverage of Gaza reflects a blend of solidarity, dependency, and domestic priority. While the continent’s press has expressed deep concern over the loss of civilian lives and the worsening humanitarian situation, the extent and nature of coverage often depend on national alliances, ideological leanings, and access to international news sources.
One of the most defining characteristics of African media coverage of the Gaza conflict is its reliance on foreign news agencies. This dependency stems largely from limited financial and logistical capacity. Most African media organizations lack the resources to maintain foreign correspondents, even within Africa let alone in volatile regions like the Middle East. According to a 2020 survey by Africa No Filter, about 63% of media outlets on the continent do not have correspondents outside their home countries. Consequently, many African newsrooms source international news from agencies such as the Associated Press (AP), Agence France-Presse (AFP), BBC, CNN, and even the Daily Mail. This reliance naturally shapes the lens through which African audiences view the conflict, as the framing and editorial biases of these international platforms are transmitted directly into African public discourse. When African newspapers and broadcasters use these external sources, they often repackage stories rather than produce original content or analysis. As a result, the African perspective the unique political, historical, and cultural lens through which the continent might interpret the Gaza conflict remains underdeveloped.
The response to the Gaza war has not been uniform across Africa. Each country’s media reflects its government’s diplomatic stance and internal political climate, though not always neatly aligned. In Kenya, for instance, the government maintains a close relationship with Israel. Yet, the press enjoys considerable freedom and diversity of opinion. The Star newspaper, in an article titled “Palestine Question: Be on the Right Side of History” on 29th of October, 2023, provided a space for nuanced reflection rather than overt state messaging. The Star It allowed readers to form their own opinions, signalling that even in pro-Israel contexts, African media can maintain editorial independence and pluralism.
In contrast, South Africa, long known for its strong pro-Palestinian stance, has seen its media take a more activist tone. Outlets like News24 and the Mail & Guardian have provided both reportage and commentary that situate the current violence within broader historical and moral frameworks. The Mail & Guardian’s piece titled “The Long Taproot of Hamas Violence” by Deputy Editor Drew Forrest on 25th of October, 2023, delved into the deep historical roots of the conflict, exploring colonial legacies and regional grievances. The Mail & Guardian Meanwhile, an editorial in The Star (South Africa) titled “Israel-Palestine conflict is not about two equal sides” on 30th of October, 2023, argued the framing of the conflict in many outlets disregards decades of Israeli occupation. The Star Civil society media in South Africa have also covered pro-Palestine protests and amplified domestic activism that resonates with the country’s own anti-apartheid history.
In Ghana, Zambia, and Rwanda, the tone is markedly more restrained. Ghana’s government-owned Ghanaian Times adopts a diplomatic approach, calling for cessation of hostilities and peace from both sides. Zambia’s strong alliance with Israel has also influenced its media’s cautious coverage. The Lusaka Times, for example, sparked public debate after the Zambian government abstained from a United Nations vote on the Gaza resolution an editorial silence that reflected political sensitivity. Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo, despite having strong ties with Israel, have shown minimal coverage of the conflict, largely focusing on domestic issues and regional instability.
While governments shape diplomatic narratives, media platforms often reveal the pulse of the people. In Nigeria, for instance, where the government maintains a neutral stance, the press mirrors the country’s deep religious and regional divisions. Two of its leading newspapers, The Punch and Daily Trust, demonstrate contrasting editorial choices that reflect these divides. The Punch tends to source stories from foreign agencies that highlight the impact of Hamas attacks and Israeli responses, aligning somewhat with Western narratives. Daily Trust, on the other hand, leans toward the humanitarian toll in Gaza, emphasising civilian suffering and calls for international intervention. These contrasting emphases reveal not only editorial independence but also the broader ideological diversity in Nigerian society. Reactions to these reports are often filtered through religious and ethnic identities. For instance, The Punch’s Facebook post about the rising death toll in Gaza drew polarised comments many Nigerians in the southwest interpreted the conflict through a religious lens, expressing sympathy for Israel, while others called for solidarity with Palestine. Such reactions underscore how African media, even when sourcing from international outlets, can become an arena for local identity politics and moral reflection.
Another issue shaping African media’s influence is visibility. African outlets often prioritise domestic crises such as poverty, political instability, or environmental disasters over distant wars. Given the continent’s long list of pressing humanitarian challenges, foreign conflicts may not always make front-page news. However, this limited attention should not be mistaken for indifference. Governments and citizens across Africa have consistently voiced concern about the humanitarian situation in Gaza, even if their media coverage remains intermittent. African journalists, many of whom understand the cost of conflict firsthand, have expressed solidarity with their colleagues in Gaza. Tragically, by mid-November, at least 42 journalists and media workers had been killed in the ongoing war, according to the Committee for the Protection of Journalists. This global loss resonates deeply in African newsrooms that continue to operate under their own political and security constraints.
The African media’s role in shaping perceptions of the Gaza conflict is thus a story of contradictions of empathy without proximity, of solidarity constrained by structure. The absence of strong local reportage from the Middle East limits Africa’s ability to contribute unique, home-grown perspectives to global discussions about justice, human rights, and colonial legacies. Yet, within these limits, African journalists continue to assert moral and intellectual agency. By republishing, reframing, and sometimes reinterpreting international reports, they keep the conversation alive across languages and borders. Ultimately, the way Africans perceive the Gaza conflict is shaped not only by what is reported, but also by what is absent. The limited presence of African voices in global coverage reflects broader challenges of representation and resource inequality in the international media system. Nonetheless, African media through selective coverage, public debate, and editorial independence plays a subtle but significant role in linking the moral conscience of the continent to the wider world. As Africa continues to navigate its own internal crises and global partnerships, its journalists remain the custodians of a vital question: How can a continent with its own history of colonialism, apartheid, and displacement engage authentically with another people’s struggle for dignity and peace?
Anita, is a Graduate of History and Int’l Studies from the University of Nigeria, Nsukka. She is currently serving as a Corps Member at the Institute for Peace and Conflict Resolution (IPCR), Abuja. She writes via aneetarh009@gmail.com
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