Africa
2018
Africa documents by Year:
Lesotho Constitutional Court declares criminal defamation unconstitutional
May 22, 2018 4:04 PM ET
New York, May 22, 2018--The Committee to Protect Journalists today welcomed yesterday's ruling by Lesotho's Constitutional Court that criminal defamation is unconstitutional, calling it a significant step toward safeguarding press freedom in the country....
Puntland authorities detain journalist without charge
May 18, 2018 12:31 PM ET
Nairobi, May 18, 2018--Authorities in Puntland, a semi-autonomous region in Somalia, should immediately release journalist Ibrahim Obo Daud, also known as Suldan Godogodo, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today. Ibrahim was arrested on May 4 in Garowe, the administrative capital of Puntland, according to Media Association of Puntland...
Gambia declares criminal defamation unconstitutional, keeps some laws on sedition, false news
May 10, 2018 4:05 PM ET
Nairobi, May 10, 2018--The Committee to Protect Journalists welcomes the Gambian Supreme Court's decision yesterday to declare criminal defamation unconstitutional, but is dismayed that segments of the country's criminal code on sedition and false news were upheld....
Kenyan president should not sign cybercrime bill into law
May 10, 2018 11:40 AM ET
Nairobi, May 10, 2018 -- The Committee to Protect Journalists today called on Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta not to sign into law a cybercrimes bill that was recently passed by the National Assembly because it will stifle press freedom....
Burundi media regulator suspends BBC and VOA, warns other broadcasters
May 7, 2018 5:37 PM ET
Nairobi, May 7, 2018--Authorities in Burundi should immediately lift a six-month licensing suspension imposed on radio broadcasts of the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) and Voice of America (VOA), the Committee to Protect Journalists said today. Burundi's National Communication Council (CNC), the media industry regulator, on May 4 accused the...
Cameroon military court orders radio journalist to be held for at least 6 months
May 7, 2018 3:22 PM ET
New York, May 7, 2018--Cameroonian authorities must immediately release broadcaster Akumbom Elvis McCarthy from detention and ensure that the country's military courts are not used to prosecute journalists, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today....
Journalist found stabbed and killed in Liberia
April 18, 2018 5:49 PM ET
New York, April 18, 2018--Liberian authorities should thoroughly investigate the killing of Tyron Brown, a video editor and camera operator with Super Communications, a privately owned outlet that runs Super FM and Super Television, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today....
CPJ concerned with developments in trial against Angolan journalists
April 16, 2018 5:33 PM ET
New York, April 16, 2018--The Committee to Protect Journalists today condemned a decision by Angolan authorities to continue the trial of journalists Rafael Marques de Morais, who runs the anti-corruption news website Maka Angola, and Mariano Bras Lourenco, a correspondent for the newspaper O Crime, behind closed doors instead...
Liberia should reform libel laws in wake of $1.8 million civil lawsuit against Front Page Africa
April 11, 2018 5:46 PM ET
New York, April 11, 2018--The Committee to Protect Journalists today expressed concern over a US$1.8 million civil defamation lawsuit against Front Page Africa, a privately owned Liberian newspaper that has long been the subject of complaints and harassment for its critical reporting on successive governments....