2020

New York, April 27, 2020—Today the group of undersigned organizations called on authorities in Benin to immediately release imprisoned journalist Ignace Sossou on appeal and ensure that he does not continue to face undue risk of coronavirus exposure in ongoing detention.

[Editors’ Note: This article has been changed in its headline and fifth paragraph to reflect the Ebonyi governor’s more recent statements.] Abuja, April 24, 2020 — Authorities in Nigeria should stop harassing journalists Peter Okutu and Chijioke Agwu, and must cease using COVID-19-related laws to stifle the press, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today.

Johannesburg-based freelance journalist Yeshiel Panchia was on his way to cover a story about a local developer who had found a way to keep his wage laborers employed during South Africa’s coronavirus lockdown by letting them live on the construction site so that they didn’t have to leave “home” in contravention of strict rules.

New York, April 22, 2020 — Authorities in Madagascar should immediately release journalist Arphine Helisoa and halt the legal proceedings against her, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today.

Nairobi, April 22, 2020 — Ugandan authorities must investigate security forces’ recent attacks against journalists and hold those responsible to account, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today.

New York, April 17, 2020 — Authorities in Mozambique must conduct a swift and transparent investigation into the whereabouts of journalist Ibraimo Abú Mbaruco and hold those responsible for his disappearance to account, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today.

Abuja, Nigeria, April 16, 2020 — Ghana’s military should investigate the recent attacks on the press by soldiers and hold those responsible to account, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today.

Nairobi, April 16, 2020 — In response to Ethiopian authorities’ new terrorism allegations against broadcast journalist Yayesew Shimelis today, the Committee to Protect Journalists issued the following statement:

Nairobi, April 16, 2020 — Somali authorities should immediately and unconditionally release journalist Abdiaziz Ahmed Gurbiye and guarantee that the media can cover and comment on the COVID-19 pandemic without facing jail time, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today.

Since March 19, 2020, Liberian security forces have attacked or intimidated at least four journalists covering the COVID-19 pandemic, according to the journalists, who spoke with CPJ in phone calls and via messaging apps, and a report posted on Facebook by the Press Union of Liberia, a local trade group.