Balkans has officially returned to audiences across the region, adopting a digital-first model that builds upon its previous foundation while tailoring its coverage for online platforms.
The relaunch on Sunday, November 1, represents a new operational phase for the network, known as AJB, which originally launched in 2011 before shutting down in 2025. In the weeks preceding the formal rollout, the network began testing its digital footprint across social media, reporting on significant regional events such as elections in Serbia and civil protests in Albania. That preview period generated nearly 100 million views across various social platforms.
Jamal Elshayyal, ’s director of digital news content and languages, described the digital return as a reaffirmation of the network’s core editorial principles.
“The Balkans is a region whose stories, struggles and suffering have too often been seen only when they become impossible for the world to ignore. Yet behind the headlines are societies in transformation, communities shaped by extraordinary resilience, and people asking to be heard,” Elshayyal stated.
“The launch of Balkans in this new digital form is a reaffirmation of what has always been at the heart of : going where the story matters, listening to the voice of the voiceless, and giving people the space to tell their own stories.”
Under its updated structure, the platform features a dedicated “Balkans” section on its website alongside localized coverage for individual countries, including Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Kosovo, and North Macedonia. The revamped operation also incorporates short-form video explainers, podcasts, and targeted reporting on the Balkan diaspora residing in countries such as Germany and the United States.
Audiences can access the network’s reporting through its digital portal at balkans.aljazeera.net, as well as across major social media channels including Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, YouTube, X, and Threads.
