Africa

Contact CPJ Africa

Twitter: @CPJAfrica
Facebook: CPJAfrica
Africa Program Head:
Angela Quintal

Africa Program Coordinator:
Muthoki Mumo

Senior Africa Researcher:
Jonathan Rozen

Tel: 212-465-1004
Fax: 212-214-0640

Knight Foundation Press Freedom Center
P.O. Box 2675
New York, NY 10108 USA

  
Journalists François Essomba (from left), Solange Djuikam , Pierre Mouchili, and Igor Gwet Bibey leave Yaoundé Central Police Station on September 21 after spending several days in overcrowded cells. (Photo: Courtesy of Thierry Eba/SPIC)

4 Cameroonian journalists jailed for theft of minister’s glasses – that he later found

Dakar, September 24, 2026—The Committee to Protect Journalists calls on Cameroonian authorities to hold to account those behind the detention of four journalists suspected of stealing a minister’s glasses, in a scandal that has led to calls for a boycott of the minister’s events. The journalists were released on Monday without charge. Solange Djuikam spent…

Read More ›

Congolese music journalist Virginie Manganga

DRC journalist arrested on allegations of defaming musician Fally Ipupa

Kinshasa, September 23, 2026—The Committee to Protect Journalists urges authorities in the Democratic Republic of the Congo to immediately release music journalist Virginie Manganga, who was arrested on Sunday for her interview with a woman who alleged that she had an affair with musician Fally Ipupa. “DRC authorities must immediately and unconditionally release journalist Virginie…

Read More ›

Guinea's President Mamady Doumbouya at his swearing-in ceremony in Conakry, Guinea, on January 17, 2026.

Guinea bans France 24, withdraws Jeune Afrique correspondent’s accreditation

Dakar, September 18, 2026—The Committee to Protect Journalists calls on Guinean authorities to reverse Thursday’s ban on France 24 after a presenter called President Mamadi Doumbouya a “putschist president“ and to reinstate the accreditation of the pan-African weekly Jeune Afrique’s Guinea correspondent Diawo Barry. “By prohibiting France 24 from broadcasting and Jeune Afrique’s Diawo Barry…

Read More ›

Trésor Muntu, director general of Centrale Radio Télévision.

DRC journalist detained, prosecuted for sharing X post on WhatsApp

Kinshasa, September 17, 2026—The Committee to Protect Journalists calls on authorities in southeast Democratic Republic of the Congo to immediately release journalist Trésor Muntu, who was detained on Tuesday after sharing another journalist’s post that criticized a politician. “DRC authorities must free Trésor Muntu and refrain from weaponizing the justice system to intimidate journalists,” said…

Read More ›

Somali journalist Mascuud Warsame

How a Somali journalist tried to fix regional president’s Facebook page — and spent 38 days in jail

It’s been a month since journalist Mascuud Warsame was freed from a detention facility in the Somali capital, Mogadishu, but his memories of the harrowing experience are still vivid. He remembers trying to sleep in a tiny room where the lights were kept on most of the night, his stomach pains and acid reflux from…

Read More ›

Togolese journalist Roland Yaovi Kodjo

Togolese journalist kidnapped, assaulted in a case of mistaken identity

Dakar, September 11, 2026—The Committee to Protect Journalists calls on Togolese authorities to investigate the seizure and assault of journalist Roland Yaovi Kodjo, prosecute those responsible, and ensure journalists’ safety, after armed men kidnapped Kodjo on September 5 and released him hours later after realizing they had targeted the wrong man. “The kidnapping and assault…

Read More ›

Nigerien journalist Moussa Kaka

In Niger, prominent journalist Moussa Kaka missing since August 31

Dakar, September 9, 2026—The Committee to Protect Journalists calls on Nigerien authorities to take urgent action to find Moussa Kaka, CEO of the Radio Télévision Saraounia (RTS) group, who disappeared on August 31, days after authorities foiled an attempted coup. “The suspicious circumstances surrounding Moussa Kaka’s disappearance demand urgent action to locate him and end…

Read More ›

Journalist Abdiqani Hussein Abokor, also known as Baylood, interviews the poet Ismail Yusuf Abdi, who recites a poem warning that Somaliland President Abdirahman Mohamed Abdillahi risks being cursed.

Somaliland journalist detained without charge after interviewing poet

New York, September 7, 2026–The Committee to Protect Journalists calls for the release of Somali journalist Abdiqani Hussein Abokor, also known as Baylood, who has been held without charge since August 29 in the breakaway region of Somaliland after interviewing a poet. “Abdiqani Hussein Abokor joins a long list of journalists in Somaliland who have…

Read More ›

Alex Kiprotich, an associate editor for Standard Group, who was seized by armed men and released hours later, sits with Group CEO Chaacha Mwita, during a news conference at the Standard Group offices in Nairobi, Kenya, on September 2.

Kenyan Standard’s Alex Kiprotich seized by armed men after escaping earlier attack

Nairobi, September 4, 2026—The Committee to Protect Journalists calls on Kenyan authorities to ensure a credible investigation into Tuesday’s seizure of Standard Group editor Alex Kiprotich by armed men whom local media allege were police officers. The five-hour incident followed a similar attack on June 27, when Kiprotich’s car was intercepted by men with guns…

Read More ›

Benin President Romuald Wadagni

CPJ urges Benin’s president to strengthen press freedom

The Committee to Protect Journalists has urged Beninese President Romuald Wadagni to take decisive measures to protect press freedom, in a letter marking his first 100 days in office. The letter highlights Benin’s deteriorating press freedom record in recent years, including the July 2025 arrest of Comlan Hugues Sossoukpè, publishing director of the privately owned…

Read More ›