Africa
2018
Nigeria’s Fresh FM radio station partially demolished following critical reporting
Fresh FM, a privately owned radio station based in Ibadan city, in Nigeria’s southwestern Oyo state, was partially demolished by bulldozer during the early hours of August 19, 2018, upon the order of the Oyo state government, Samson Akindele, head of news for Fresh FM, and David Ajiboye, station manager for Fresh FM, told CPJ.…
Ugandan police arrest and detain radio presenter overnight
Ugandan police on August 17, 2018 detained Samuel Kyambadde, a political show host and news presenter with the privately owned Metro FM, on allegations that he incited violence during his program, Kyambadde told CPJ on August 22. The journalist was released on bond the following day and is required to report daily to the Old…
Ugandan security forces attack and detain journalists covering protests
Nairobi, August 23, 2018–Security forces beat and detained at least four journalists covering protests in the Ugandan capital, Kampala, on August 20, and confiscated or damaged their equipment. CPJ today condemned the attacks and called on Ugandan authorities to hold those responsible to account.
Tanzania police detain journalist overnight on allegations of unlawful assembly
Nairobi, August 21, 2018–Police in Tanzania should drop allegations of illegal assembly against Sitta Tumma, a journalist who was arrested on August 8 and detained overnight, and investigate allegations that he was assaulted by security personnel, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today.
Two Congolese journalists arrested for investigating land dispute
Two journalists, Yolande Kusaya and Cédrick Kidimbu, with the privately owned Radio Lisanga Télévision (RLTV) were arrested in Nsele municipality of Kinshasa, the capital of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, on July 17, 2018, and detained for four days at the prosecutor’s office in Kinkole, a suburb northeast of the city, according to the…
CPJ joins call for UN Human Rights Council to address crackdown in Tanzania
The Committee to Protect Journalists and 29 other civil society groups yesterday wrote to the member and observer states of the United Nations Human Rights Council urging them to address the deteriorating situation for human rights, including freedom of the press, in Tanzania during the upcoming 39th session of the council in September.
Ugandan security personnel arrest, assault journalists covering electoral unrest
Nairobi, August 17, 2018– Authorities in Uganda should immediately drop charges of incitement and malicious damage to property against two journalists and investigate allegations that security personnel on August 13 and August 14 assaulted members of the press reporting on political unrest in northern Uganda’s Arua District, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today.
Nigerian journalist jailed for refusing to reveal source
New York, August 16, 2018–Nigerian police should immediately release journalist Samuel Ogundipe, drop all charges against him, and cease efforts to pressure him to reveal any journalistic sources, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today.
CPJ welcomes release of Nigerian journalist Jones Abiri
New York, August 15, 2018–The Committee to Protect Journalists welcomes the release today after over two years in detention of Jones Abiri, publisher and editor-in-chief of the Weekly Source newspaper. CPJ urges Nigerian authorities to drop all charges against Abiri and ensure those responsible for his over two years in detention without trial or family…
Lesotho authorities accuse MoAfrika FM of incitement for critical reports
Nairobi, August 15, 2018– Authorities in Lesotho should immediately withdraw a baseless complaint of incitement against the privately owned MoAfrika FM radio station and cease trying to intimidate critical journalists, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today.