Addis Ababa — Ethiopia’s Speaker of the House of Peoples’ Representatives, Tagese Chafo, hailed the launch of Pulse of Africa Media (POA) as a turning point in how the world perceives Africa, calling it a “historic opportunity to reclaim the narrative” of a continent too often defined by outsiders.
The pan-African media outlet, initiated by Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed and launched last week in the Ethiopian capital, aims to project Africa’s stories through African eyes — an ambitious attempt to counter decades of Western-dominated reporting that has framed Africa largely through the lenses of crisis, aid, and instability.
During his visit to the POA headquarters on Tuesday, Speaker Tagese described the new media network as “a platform of identity and independence.
” He said Africa’s wealth — in natural resources, cultural depth, and intellectual strength — has been overshadowed by the absence of global-scale media rooted on the continent itself.
“Africa must tell its own stories,” Tagese said. “Through platforms like this, the continent can share its reality, its achievements, and its aspirations with the world.”
He called on Africans across the continent to participate actively in shaping the outlet’s editorial mission, insisting that its success will depend not only on technology or state support, but on “the daily voices of Africans who believe in their own power.”
The Ethiopian government, Tagese added, remains fully committed to supporting the network’s growth, promising resources and political backing to ensure the outlet’s sustainability.
During his tour of POA’s modern newsroom and broadcast facilities, the Speaker praised the “cutting-edge infrastructure” that positions the channel as one of the most sophisticated in Africa.
Analysts see the move as part of Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed’s broader effort to position Ethiopia as a continental hub for digital diplomacy and media influence, mirroring how regional powers like Qatar and Turkey have used state-backed media to project soft power globally.
If successful, Pulse of Africa could become a unifying communications platform for the continent — one capable of challenging stereotypes, reframing narratives, and amplifying an Africa-led worldview in the global information ecosystem.
