Africa Archives - Page 8 of 17 - Committee to Protect Journalists

Police in Burkina Faso seize journalist’s camera, deletes images

July 28, 2014 12:47 PM EDT

A police officer on July 24, 2014, seized the camera of Hippolyte Sama, a photojournalist with the independent newsmagazine Fasozine, while he was photographing relatives of victims of an Air Algeria plane that crashed in northern Mali, according to news reports.

DRC police attack journalists covering protest

July 28, 2014 12:45 PM EDT

Congolese police on July 22, 2014, beat three TV journalists while they were covering a protest outside the offices of Molière TV, a broadcast station based in the capital, Kinshasa.

Zimbabwe's Constitutional Court's decision to strike down criminal defamation must be implemented. (AFP/Jekesai Njikizana)

Zimbabwe court strikes down criminal defamation; implementation to be seen

July 28, 2014 11:51 AM EDT

In a landmark ruling, the Zimbabwean Constitutional Court on July 22 declared unconstitutional a section of the draconian Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act that criminalizes defamation.

CPJ condemns Swaziland editor’s prison sentence

July 25, 2014 12:33 PM EDT

Cape Town, July 25, 2014–CPJ is appalled by the two-year prison sentence, without the option of a fine, imposed today on editor of The Nation Bheki Makhubu and human rights lawyer Thulani Maseko by the Swaziland High Court in Mbabane. The pair was convicted on contempt of court charges on July 17, in connection with…

CPJ calls on Ethiopian government to release imprisoned journalists

July 24, 2014 4:40 PM EDT

CPJ is among a group of more than 40 regional and international press freedom and civil society organizations that have signed a joint letter to Ethiopian Prime Minister Hailemariam Desalegn expressing concern over the recent imprisonment of Ethiopian journalists under the country’s far-reaching 2009 anti-terrorism law.

Oga Tom Uhia, publisher of the monthly independent Power Steering magazine, has been in police custody since Tuesday. (CPJ/Peter Nkanga)

Nigerian publisher charged with defamation

July 18, 2014 3:14 PM EDT

Abuja, Nigeria, July 18, 2014–Nigerian authorities should drop the charges against a publisher who has been held in police custody since Tuesday on accusations of defaming a state governor, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today. Police on Tuesday detained Oga Tom Uhia, publisher of the monthly independent Power Steering magazine, Alexander Oketa, his lawyer,…

Ethiopian authorities charge nine journalists with terrorism

July 17, 2014 4:12 PM EDT

Nairobi, July 17, 2014–An Ethiopian court charged nine Ethiopian journalists arrested in April with inciting violence and terrorism, according to local journalists and news reports. The nine arrested include six bloggers from an independent collective called Zone 9, which publishes critical news and commentary.

Bheki Makhubu, editor of The Nation, is seen in court in March. Makhubu was convicted today on contempt of court charges. (AFP/Debra Khumalo)

Editor and lawyer convicted of contempt of court in Swaziland

July 17, 2014 12:52 PM EDT

Cape Town, South Africa, July 17, 2014–The Committee to Protect Journalists condemns today’s convictions for contempt of court of an editor and lawyer in Swaziland.

CPJ condemns closed court hearings for nine Ethiopian journalists

July 14, 2014 5:18 PM EDT

Nairobi, July 14, 2014–The Ethiopian government should end its politicized prosecution of nine Ethiopian journalists arrested in April. The journalists and their lawyers were shut out of court room hearings in recent days.

CPJ urges respect for media freedom in South Africa

July 14, 2014 2:35 PM EDT

Dear Hlaudi Motsoeneng: The Committee to Protect Journalists, an independent, nonprofit organization that promotes press freedom worldwide, is writing to express its concern at recent anti-press statements you made at the University of Witwatersrand in Johannesburg.