Africa

Egypt is second only to China as the world’s worst jailer of journalists in 2015. Worldwide, the number of journalists behind bars for their work declined moderately during the year, but a handful of countries continue to use systematic imprisonment to silence criticism. A CPJ special report by Elana Beiser

While just under 200 journalists are behind bars, CPJ witnessed several memorable releases in 2015, including in Vietnam, Ethiopia, and even secretive Eritrea. Some of the journalists had spent years behind bars; they endured isolation and several say they were tortured. This year, CPJ’s advocacy contributed to the release of at least 31 journalists. Some…

New York, December 10, 2015–The Committee to Protect Journalists calls on the South African government to revise provisions in the proposed Cybercrimes and Cybersecurity Bill that would limit journalists’ ability to work. Under the bill, journalists and members of the public could be prosecuted for possessing or disclosing state information, reports said.

Isaac Kugonza, a cameraman with the privately owned station Delta TV, was seriously injured while covering a peaceful procession led by Kampala mayor Erias Lukwago on November 16, 2015, in Uganda’s capital, Kampala, according to news reports. Lukwago is seeking re-election as mayor of Kampala, reports said.

Francine Bishti, a reporter for the privately owned station Radio Télévision par Satellite 1 was attacked on November 16, 2015 while covering student protests in Kinshasa, the capital of the Democratic Republic of Congo, according to reports. Bishti was filming a group of about 16 students, who were protesting an increase in academic fees, when…

Abuja, Nigeria, November 12, 2015–The Committee to Protect Journalists calls on the president of Togo to block a proposed article in the country’s penal code that would threaten press freedom. Under the proposed law, journalists could face jail sentences and fines for “false news,” according to news reports.