Africa Archives - Page 10 of 12 - Committee to Protect Journalists

Equatoguinean cartoonist and blogger Ramón Nsé Esono Ebalé served more than five months in prison on false charges of money laundering and counterfeiting. (Eloísa Vaello Marco)

Equatorial Guinea releases from prison journalist Ramón Nsé Esono Ebalé

March 7, 2018 12:31 PM EST

New York, March 7, 2018–The Committee to Protect Journalists today welcomed news that Equatoguinean cartoonist and blogger Ramón Nsé Esono Ebalé is free from prison after serving more than five months in a Malabo jail on false charges of money laundering and counterfeiting.

Nigerian journalist Tony Ezimakor released; colleague remains behind bars

March 6, 2018 7:06 PM EST

New York, March 6, 2018–The Committee to Protect Journalists welcomed the release today of Tony Ezimakor, Abuja bureau chief of the privately owned Daily Independent newspaper, who was held by Nigeria’s Department of State Services (DSS) since February 28. Ezimakor was released unconditionally from DSS custody in Abuja around 10:30 p.m. local time, according to…

A man carrying a flag for the militant group Boko Haram walks past a group of 82 Chibok girls, who were held captive for three years by the militants, as the girls wait to be released in exchange for several militant commanders, near Kumshe, Nigeria on May 6, 2017. Nigeria's domestic intelligence agency has detained journalist Tony Ezimakor fin relation to an article he wrote about the release of the Nigerian schoolgirls, according to media reports. (Reuters/Zanah Mustapha)

Nigeria’s intelligence agency detains journalist to force him to reveal sources

March 6, 2018 4:59 PM EST

EDITOR’S NOTE: Immediately after distributing this alert, CPJ learned that Ezimakor was freed just prior to publication. CPJ issued a separate statement concerning his release. Lomé, March 6, 2018–Nigerian authorities should release immediately Tony Ezimakor, the Abuja bureau chief of the privately owned Daily Independent newspaper, and stop trying to compel him to disclose his…

CPJ urges Angola’s president to champion press freedom

March 2, 2018 11:40 AM EST

CPJ urges Angola’s President Joao Lourenco to champion the protection of journalists and news outlets, repeal criminal defamation and insult laws, and for the State to drop criminal charges against journalists who were targeted in retaliation for their work.

A news stand in Abuja, Nigeria in October 2014. A Nigerian court is scheduled to arraign brothers Timothy and Daniel Elombah, editor and chief executive respectively, of the independent Elombah news website, on cybercrime and terrorism-related offenses on March 1, 2018.(Reuters/ Stringer)

Two Nigerian journalists charged with cybercrime

February 27, 2018 2:09 PM EST

Lomé, February 27, 2018–Nigerian authorities should immediately drop plans to charge Timothy and Daniel Elombah, editor and chief executive respectively, of the independent Elombah news website, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today.

CPJ calls on Somaliland’s president to prioritize press freedom

February 26, 2018 9:38 AM EST

The Committee to Protect Journalists writes to the President of the Republic of Somaliland Muse Bihi Abdi urging him to free imprisoned journalists and ensure news outlets can operate freely.

People wave flags as soldiers and other military personnel of Somalia's breakaway territory of Somaliland march past during an Independence day celebration parade in the capital, Hargeisa on May 18, 2016. Somaliland authorities detained journalist Mohamed Aabi Digaale on February 17, 2018. (Mohamed Abdiwahab/AFP)

Somaliland journalist detained without charge

February 21, 2018 3:34 PM EST

Nairobi, February 21, 2018–Somaliland authorities should immediately release Mohamed Aabi Digaale, the Hargeisa bureau chief for the London-based broadcaster Universal TV, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today. Police arrested Mohamed on February 17 and have been holding him without charge, Guleid Ahmed Jama, chairperson of the advocacy organization Human Rights Center, and Abdullahi Hersi…

Benin suspends local paper for insulting president

February 20, 2018 5:29 PM EST

Benin’s media regulator, the High Authority for Broadcasting and Communication (HAAC), ordered the privately owned daily L’Audace Info on February 8, 2018 to suspend indefinitely its print and online editions after it allegedly insulted the president, the paper’s editor, Romuald Alingo, told CPJ.

An undated picture of members of the Zone 9 blogging collective. One of the bloggers is waiting for a court to drop an incitement charge against him. (Endalkachew H/Michael)

CPJ calls on Ethiopia to drop case against Zone 9 blogger

February 16, 2018 12:57 PM EST

Nairobi, February 16, 2018–The Committee to Protect Journalists today called on Ethiopian authorities to drop an incitement charge against Zone 9 blogger Atnafu Berhane. Prosecutors told a court on February 14 they planned to drop the charge today, but the process was delayed by a paperwork error, Atnafu told CPJ. He added that a judge…

A general view shows the capital city of Kampala in Uganda, in July 2016. Five unidentified men dressed in military camouflage seized journalist Charles Etukuri outside the newspaper's office in Kampala on February 13, 2018. (Reuters/James Akena)

Ugandan journalist seized in Kampala following investigative report

February 14, 2018 4:22 PM EST

Nairobi, February 14, 2018–Ugandan authorities must make every effort to secure the safe release of Charles Etukuri, an investigative journalist for the state-owned New Vision newspaper, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today. Five unidentified men dressed in military camouflage seized Etukuri outside the newspaper’s office in Kampala yesterday, days after he published an investigation…