Africa
2009
In Bukavu, third journalist murdered since 2007
New York, August 24, 2009–Following the brutal murder on Sunday of radio journalist Bruno Koko Chirambiza in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo–the third journalist to be slain in the restive region since 2007–the Committee to Protect Journalists calls on Congolese authorities to end the alarming pattern of impunity in journalist murders.
Cameroon shutters radio station over talk program
New York, August 19, 2009–The Committee to Protect Journalists CPJ calls on Cameroonian authorities to reopen a private radio station shut down on Monday over a popular talk show.About 20 paramilitary police summarily sealed the studios of Sky One Radio, based in the capital, Yaoundé, the station’s president, Joseph Angoula Angoula, told CPJ. The station was…
Niger editor sentenced to prison
New York, August 19, 2009–The Committee to Protect Journalists condemns a prison sentence given on Tuesday to the editor of a private newspaper in Niger. Abdoulaye Tiémogo, editor of the weekly Le Canard Déchaîné, has been in police custody in the capital, Niamey, since August 1.
Uganda’s Museveni issues warning to news media
President Yoweri Museveni of Uganda lashed out at private broadcasters last week, accusing them of unethical reporting. The comments come in the midst of two important, ongoing developments: mounting public criticism of Museveni’s policies and the government’s criminal prosecutions of six journalists for their coverage.
After al-Qaeda report, Kenyan police harass Star
New York, August 18, 2009–The Committee to Protect Journalist is concerned Kenyan police are attempting to intimidate journalists at the private daily, The Star, to reveal their sources for a June 20 article that said the Kenyan Anti-Terrorism Police Unit had lost crucial files about an accused al-Qaeda member.
Press freedom slips in Zambia
In Zambia, the coming week will mark the anniversary of the untimely death of President Levy Patrick Mwanawasa. The late president had championed press freedom with his commitments to reform, and, with his passing, the Zambian media lost an ally. Worse, the media freedoms gained in recent years are now slipping.
Ethiopia pushes Kenyan TV to drop report on rebels
Last week, the Ethiopian government tried to force private Kenyan broadcaster Nation Television (NTV) to drop a four-part exclusive report on separatist rebels in southern Ethiopia. NTV aired the first two parts of “Inside Rebel Territory: Rag-Tag Fighters of the Oromo Liberation Front,” which led Ethiopia’s ambassador to Kenya to accuse the Nation Media Group of giving a platform…