Africa
2022
South African court bans Independent Media outlets from publishing leaked intelligence report
Lusaka, October 13, 2022 – A South African court judgment banning the publication of an intelligence report about alleged U.S. efforts to gather intelligence about South Africa’s ruling African National Congress party must be made public and should be overturned on appeal, the Committee to Protect Journalists said Thursday. On October 5, Gauteng High Court…
Zimbabwean journalists assaulted, harassed, and blocked from covering events
Lusaka, October 13, 2022—Zimbabwean authorities and ruling Zimbabwe African National Union-Patriotic Front (ZANU-PF) should investigate the assaults and harassment of journalists covering events of public interest in the past week, the Committee to Protect Journalists said Thursday. “The increasing cases of violence against journalists in Zimbabwe is becoming a serious source of concern and must…
Special report: When spyware turns phones into weapons
How zero-click surveillance threatens reporters, sources, and global press freedom By Fred Guterl Published October 13, 2022 Aida Alami has always been wary of surveillance. As a journalist from Morocco, a state with a track record of intercepting phone calls and messages of political rivals, activists, and journalists, she habitually took precautions to protect her…
Somali intelligence personnel arrest press rights advocate Abdalle Ahmed Mumin
Nairobi, October 11, 2022—In response to reports of the arrest of Somali press freedom advocate and freelance journalist Abdalle Ahmed Mumin, the Committee to Protect Journalists issued the following statement on Tuesday calling for his immediate release: “Abdalle Ahmed Mumin is a fearless and tireless advocate for the rights of Somali journalists to report the…
DRC journalist Gauthier Sey Tshiang sentenced to one year in prison, fined over reports on public official
Kinshasa, October 7, 2022 — Authorities of the Democratic Republic of the Congo should not oppose journalist Gauthier Sey Tshiang’s appeal of his sentencing to one year in prison and a financial penalty over reporting about a public official, the Committee to Protect Journalists said Friday. On September 19, the Kinshasa Gombe Peace Court sentenced…
Zimbabwean authorities charge journalist Hope Chizuzu under cybercrime law
Lusaka, October 6, 2022—Zimbabwean authorities should immediately drop charges against sports freelancer journalist Hope Chizuzu, return his electronic devices, and allow him to carry out his work freely, the Committee to Protect Journalists said Thursday. Around midmorning on September 29, police detectives went to Chizuzu’s office in the central business district of the capital Harare,…
Rwandan court acquits, releases 3 Iwacu TV journalists
Nairobi, October 5, 2022—In response to the acquittal and release on Wednesday of three journalists for YouTube-based Iwacu TV who have been detained in Rwanda since October 2018, the Committee to Protect Journalists issued the following statement expressing relief: “We are greatly relieved that the court has recognized the charges against Damascene Mutuyimana, Shadrack Niyonsenga,…
Congolese authorities order Lomela city radio stations off the air over security concerns
Kinshasa, October 5, 2022—Authorities in Democratic Republic of Congo’s Sankuru province should reverse their decision to shut down radio stations in Lomela city and ensure media there can work freely, the Committee to Protect Journalists said Wednesday. On September 17, Jules Lodi Emongo, governor of Sankuru province, ordered privately owned radio stations based in the…
Angolan opposition journalist’s wife assaulted in apparent retaliation for his reporting
New York, October 4, 2022–Angolan authorities must swiftly investigate and bring to justice those responsible for the assault on Ludmila Pinto, the wife of broadcaster Claudio Pinto, in an apparent warning to the journalist, the Committee to Protect Journalists said Tuesday. At around 6 p.m. on September 20, two unidentified men whose faces were concealed…
Somali journalist Ahmed Mohamed Shukur killed while covering security operation
Nairobi, October 3, 2022 — In response to reports that Somali National TV journalist Ahmed Mohamed Shukur was killed in a bomb attack on Friday, September 30, the Committee to Protect Journalists issued the following statement: “Ahmed Mohamed Shukur joins a long list of Somali journalists who have lost their lives while reporting the news,…