Africa
2021
Nigerian security forces seize journalists’ cameras, delete photos
On January 6, 2021, officers with Nigeria’s Security and Civil Defence Corps harassed at least three photojournalists in Abuja, the capital, seized their cameras, and deleted images they had taken, according to the journalists, who spoke with CPJ, and news reports. The three newspaper photographers—Olatunji Obasa with Punch, Olu Aremo with Leadership, and Mudashiru Atanda…
Journalist Hopewell Chin’ono denied bail, remains in detention in Zimbabwe
New York, January 14, 2021 – Zimbabwe authorities should not contest freelance journalist Hopewell Chin’ono’s appeal, drop all charges against him, and ensure that he can work freely, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today. Today, a magistrate court in Harare, the capital, denied Chin’ono bail, citing that the “state fears that he will commit…
CPJ joins call for Uganda to maintain internet access during election
The Committee to Protect Journalists today joined 54 other organizations in a letter to Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni calling on him to ensure open and unrestricted internet access during and after the country’s presidential election, scheduled for January 14. The letter notes that disruptions to internet access would undermine journalists’ ability to report on the…
Zimbabwe re-arrests journalist Hopewell Chin’ono
New York, January 8, 2020 – Zimbabwean authorities should immediately and unconditionally release journalist Hopewell Chin’ono and cease efforts to intimidate and harass him, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today. This afternoon, police arrested Chin’ono at his home in Harare, the capital, and took him to the city’s central police station, according to a…
Police beat, detain journalists covering opposition candidates ahead of Uganda elections
Nairobi, January 7, 2021 – Ugandan security forces should stop harassing and attacking journalists, and should ensure that the press can freely cover the country’s upcoming elections, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today. Since December 11, security officers have assaulted at least 10 journalists covering opposition events ahead of the country’s January 14 presidential…
Togolese journalist Carlos Ketohou detained, newspaper barred from publishing
New York, January 7, 2021 –Togolese authorities should permit the L’Indépendant Express newspaper to publish freely, and should ensure that its director, Komlanvi Ketohou, can work without fear of arrest or harassment, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today. On the night of December 29, armed security forces arrested Ketohou at his home in the…