Africa

2022

  

Ivory Coast journalist Noël Konan jailed overnight, fined over a tweet

On July 18, 2022, a court in Abidjan, the capital of Ivory Coast, convicted investigative reporter Noël Kouadio Konan of defamation under Article 89 of the country’s press law and fined him three million CFA francs (US$4,600) over a June 29 tweet, according to news reports and the journalist, who spoke to CPJ via messaging…

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Erick Ngaba

CAR journalist Erick Ngaba threatened over report on opposition leader

Dakar, July 29, 2022 – Central African Republic authorities should investigate threatening messages sent to journalist Erick Ngaba and ensure his safety, the Committee to Protect Journalists said Friday. Since June 14, Ngaba, managing editor of the privately owned Ndjoni Sango newspaper, has received about 20 threating messages in WhatsApp groups where he is a…

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DRC journalist Henry Hererimana Serushago in hiding after beating, threats from M23 rebels

New York, July 29, 2022 — All parties to the conflict in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo should permit members of the press to work without fear of arrest, violence, and harassment, the Committee to Protect Journalists said Friday. On the morning July 5, a group of six soldiers with the M23 rebel…

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Journalists barred from covering Zimbabwean first lady

On July 19, 2022, a spokesperson for Zimbabwean First Lady Auxullia Mnangagwa barred four journalists from covering an event featuring Mnangagwa, according to news reports, a statement by the Zimbabwean chapter of the Media Institute of Southern Africa, and two of the journalists, who spoke with CPJ. The event marked the opening of a health…

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Six Kenyan journalists and press freedom advocates on their fears ahead of general elections 

Kenyans are preparing to head to the polls August 9 for a national election that is predicted to be tightly contested. Deputy President William Ruto is vying for the presidency against main contender Raila Odinga, a veteran opposition figure who nonetheless has the backing of the current President Uhuru Kenyatta.  In 2017, Kenyan journalists were harassed and detained while covering…

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Nigerian police arrest, briefly detain 5 staff members of Peoples Gazette in Abuja

New York, July 22, 2022 — Nigerian authorities should cease harassing employees of the Peoples Gazette and reform the country’s laws to decriminalize defamation, the Committee to Protect Journalists said Friday. Mid-day on Friday, July 22, police arrived at the privately owned news website’s office in Abuja, the capital, and arrested assistant managing editor John…

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Ugandan authorities investigate 4 journalists in murder case, charge and jail 2

Nairobi, July 22, 2022 – Ugandan authorities should release journalists Ivan Mutyaba and Denis Isabirye immediately, drop all the charges against them, and drop their investigations into reporters Jacklin Nabatanzi and Muganza Julius Kiyumba, the Committee to Protect Journalists said Friday. The four journalists are among a group of suspects recently arrested for their alleged…

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Angolan journalists harassed while covering election rallies

New York, July 21, 2022 — Angolan authorities should thoroughly investigate all instances of the harassment of journalists ahead of the country’s August 24 elections, and ensure that members of the press can cover the campaign safely, the Committee to Protect Journalists said Thursday. Since July 1, at least three journalists have been harassed or…

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CPJ joins UN complaint on behalf of jailed Eritrean journalists

On July 21, 2022, the Committee to Protect Journalists joined the Raoul Wallenberg Centre for Human Rights in partnership with seven other rights organizations and lawyers in a complaint filed to the United Nations Working Group on Arbitrary Detention calling for accountability in the cases of Dawit Isaak and fifteen other journalists held behind bars…

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DRC journalist Joseph Kazadi remains behind bars after release of US reporter Nicolas Niarchos

New York, July 20, 2022 – Authorities in the Democratic Republic of the Congo should immediately release journalist Joseph Kazadi Kamuanga and ensure the press can work without fear of arrest, the Committee to Protect Journalists said Wednesday. On July 13, officers with the National Intelligence Agency (ANR) arrested U.S. freelance journalist Nicolas Niarchos and…

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2022