Africa

2019

  
Police are seen in Abuja, Nigeria, on July 23, 2019. Nigerian publisher Agba Jalingo has been detained since August 22 without charge. (Reuters/Afolabi Sotunde)

Nigerian publisher Agba Jalingo detained since August 22 without charge

Abuja, August 28, 2019 – Nigerian authorities should immediately release publisher Agba Jalingo and halt their harassment of journalists reporting on alleged corruption and other issues of public interest, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today.

Read More ›

Police officers pull a journalist during an anti-government protest in Lagos, Nigeria, on August 5, 2019. At least four journalists were detained during the protests. (Reuters/Nneka Chile)

Police in Nigeria assault, arrest journalists covering #RevolutionNow protests

On August 5, 2019, Nigerian police arrested and detained at least four journalists covering protests that took place across Nigeria in connection with the hashtag #RevolutionNow, according to journalists who spoke with CPJ and media reports.

Read More ›

Tanzanian police on August 22 detained Watetezi TV journalist Joseph Gandye, who reported on allegations that police had abused detainees. (Tanzania Human Rights Defenders Coalition)

Tanzania detains Watetezi TV journalist over investigation of police

Nairobi, August 23—The Committee to Protect Journalists today said it is concerned for the welfare of investigative journalist Joseph Gandye, who was arrested yesterday and handed over to police on whom he had reported critically, alleging they had abused other detainees.

Read More ›

Protesters from two of Benin's unions take part in a demonstration after the parliament approved a law restricting to 10 days public sector employees’ right to strike, on September 13, 2018, in Cotonou. Journalist Ignace Sossou convicted of false news in Benin on August 12, 2019. (AFP/Yanick Folly)

Journalist Ignace Sossou convicted of false news in Benin

New York, August 23, 2019–The government of Benin should act to decriminalize press offenses, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today, after journalist Ignace Sossou was convicted of false news for reporting on corporate finances.

Read More ›

Ethiopians follow the news on television at a cafe in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia Sunday, June 23, 2019. Ethiopian authorities arrested journalist Mesganaw Getachew on August 9 after he filmed outside a court in Addis Ababa. (AP Photo/Mulugeta Ayene)

Ethiopian authorities arrest journalist Mesganaw Getachew after he films outside court

Nairobi, August 20, 2019–Authorities in Ethiopia should unconditionally release journalist Mesganaw Getachew, who was arrested on August 9 after recording an interview outside a court in Addis Ababa, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today.

Read More ›

CPJ calls on SADC heads of state to prioritize press freedom and the safety of journalists

CPJ writes to the executive secretary and heads of state of the Southern African Development Community ahead of the 39th Ordinary Summit, urging them to prioritize press freedom and the safety of journalists in SADC.

Read More ›

People take part in celebrations of the 27th anniversary of self-declared independence of Somaliland in Hargeisa, on May 15, 2018. Somaliland police on July 30, 2019, arrested four Eryal TV journalists filming a corruption story in Hargeisa. (Mustafa Saeed/AFP)

Somaliland police arrest Eryal TV journalists filming corruption story

On July 30, 2019, police in the breakaway region of Somaliland arrested four journalists from privately owned Eryal TV, according to statements issued by the press rights group Somaliland Journalists Association (SOLJA) and the non-governmental organization Human Rights Centre-Somaliland.

Read More ›

A Cameroonian elite Rapid Intervention Battalion member walks along an empty street in the city of Buea in Cameroon's Anglophone southwest region on October 4, 2018. Cameroon’s military detained pidgin news anchor Samuel Wazizi on August 2, 2019, in Buea. (Reuters/Zohra Bensemra)

Cameroon’s military detains pidgin news anchor Samuel Wazizi

New York, August 13, 2019–Cameroonian authorities should immediately release without charge pidgin news anchor Samuel Wazizi, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today. Police arrested Wazizi, whose legal name is Samuel Ajiekah Abuwe, 11 days ago and handed him over to the military, which has since held him without access to his lawyer or family…

Read More ›

CPJ calls on Tanzania’s Magufuli to drop Kabendera charges, investigate Gwanda case

CPJ writes to Tanzanian President John Magufuli to urge his government to drop charges against freelance journalist Erick Kabendera and provide a public accounting of the fate of missing journalist Azory Gwanda.

Read More ›

Juba International Airport, pictured in October 2018. Two days before South Sudan's National Security Service detained Al-Watan editor Michael Christopher, the journalist had his passport confiscated at a Juba airport. (AFP/Akuot Chol)

South Sudan detains Al-Watan editor for over 3 weeks

New York, August 9, 2019—Authorities in South Sudan should immediately release Michael Christopher, editor-in-chief of the Arabic-language daily Al-Watan, and halt its harassment of his publication, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today.

Read More ›

2019