Africa Archives - Page 9 of 10 - Committee to Protect Journalists

Togolese journalist beaten, victim of hit-and-run

February 22, 2017 2:15 PM EST

Lagos, Nigeria, February 22, 2017–Togolese authorities should ensure the safety of a journalist beaten by security forces and should fully and credibly investigate that assault, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today. Robert Avotor, a journalist for the biweekly newspaper l’Alternative, told CPJ that a vehicle intentionally hit him on February 19, in what he…

A sign for Adiake stands by an empty road in the Ivory Coast. Six journalists face charges of spreading false news for reporting on a settlement reached to end a military mutiny in the town. (Reuters/Luc Gnago)

Ivory Coast detains six journalists for reporting on mutiny

February 21, 2017 1:00 PM EST

Police in the Ivory Coast on February 12, 2017, detained Vamara Coulibaly, the publisher of the independent Soir Info and L’Inter newspapers; Hamadou Ziao, editor-in-chief of L’Inter; Jean Bédel Gnago, a journalist with Soir info; Bamba Franck Mamadou, the publisher of the pro-opposition newspaper Notre Voie; Yacouba Gbané, the publisher of the pro-opposition newspapers Le…

CPJ calls on Somali President Mohamed Abdullahi Mohamed to safeguard journalists

February 15, 2017 1:50 PM EST

CPJ writes to Somali President Mohamed Abdullahi Mohamed to seek ways to work with his new administration to improve the climate for the media in Somalia, and in particular to ensure that those who murder journalists are brought to swift and fair justice.

Lawyers confer on the floor of Kenya's High Court in Nairobi, next to a copy of the country's constitution, March 8, 2013. (Reuters/Steve Crisp)

Kenyan court finds criminal libel laws unconstitutional

February 6, 2017 1:30 PM EST

New York, February 6, 2017–Today’s ruling by Kenya’s High Court that the country’s criminal defamation law is unconstitutional is a welcome step toward safeguarding press freedom and free speech, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today.

CPJ seeks meeting with Gambian President Adama Barrow

February 1, 2017 10:54 AM EST

CPJ seeks a meeting with Gambian President Adama Barrow to discuss ways in which he can improve the climate for media freedom in Gambia after 22 years of Yahya Jammeh’s policies.

CPJ urges Cameroonian President Paul Biya to free radio journalist Ahmed Abba

January 31, 2017 2:18 PM EST

CPJ urges Cameroonian President Paul Biya to instruct military prosecutors to drop charges against Ahmed Abba–a correspondent for Radio France Internationale’s Hausa-language service who has been jailed for 18 months–so that he can be released without further delay. The journalist’s trial before a military tribunal is scheduled to resume on February 2.

Somalis gather at the site of a Mogadishu hotel badly damaged in a lethal attack on January 25, 2017. (AP/Farah Abdi Warsameh)

Journalists among wounded in Mogadishu hotel attack

January 25, 2017 12:38 PM EST

Nairobi, January 25, 2017–At least four journalists were wounded in an attack on a hotel in the Somali capital Mogadishu today, according to media reports and Somali journalists.

Somaliland attorney general pursues journalists acquitted of publishing false news

January 20, 2017 3:07 PM EST

New York, January 20, 2017–Somaliland Attorney General Hasan Ahmed Hasan should immediately drop his appeal of a court’s acquittal of two journalists charged with publishing false news and operating an unlicensed newspaper, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today.

Nigerian police raid investigative news website’s office

January 19, 2017 6:26 PM EST

Lagos, Nigeria, January 19, 2017–Nigerian authorities should drop all charges against Dapo Olorunyomi, publisher of the news website Premium Times, and Evelyn Okakwu, who covers the judiciary for the website, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today. Plainclothes police officers raided the website’s office in the capital Abuja and arrested the two today, holding them…

People board a ferry leaving Banjul in Gambia on January 18, amid the threat of military intervention after President Yahya Jammeh refused to concede defeat in elections. Gambia has denied entry to several journalists planning to cover the January 19 inauguration of Adama Barrow. (AP)

Seven journalists denied entry to Gambia ahead of contested inauguration

January 18, 2017 6:50 PM EST

Lagos, Nigeria, January 18, 2017–Seven international journalists planning to report on the inauguration of Gambia’s president-elect Adama Barrow tomorrow were denied entry to the country on January 16, according to reports. The Committee to Protect Journalists denounced the obstruction as a deliberate attempt to silence the press during a period of political unrest.