Africa

Kampala, October 15, 2024—Instead of providing the latest news updates, the homepages of three leading Tanzanian newspapers are focused on their own suspension over a video seen as critical of the president, as concerns mount over deteriorating press freedom ahead of elections. On October 2, the Tanzania Communications Regulatory Authority (TCRA) issued a 30-day suspension…

New York, October 10, 2024—The Cameroonian government should end its threats to sanction  journalists who report on the condition and whereabouts of President Paul Biya, 91, who has not been seen publicly for over a month and has missed scheduled international engagements, the Committee to Protect Journalists said on Thursday. “The Cameroonian government should simply put the rumors to rest by arranging…

Kinshasa, October 9, 2024—The Committee to Protect Journalists calls on authorities in the Democratic Republic of the Congo to release journalist Patrick Lokala, and drop all legal proceedings against him and another reporter, Érasme Kasongo Kalenga, following their separate arrests on Monday, October 7.  “Authorities in the DRC should swiftly and unconditionally release Patrick Lokala…

Dakar, October 9, 2024—The Committee to Protect Journalists calls on the Burkinabe authorities to lift the suspension of the U.S. Congress-funded broadcaster Voice of America (VOA), which is the latest outlet to be censored for discussing insecurity in the Sahel region. “Instead of seeking to constrain the media available to people in their country, Burkinabe…

Dakar, October 8, 2024—The Committee to Protect Journalists calls on Chadian authorities to permit the privately owned Le Visionnaire newspaper to resume operations after it was suspended from publishing for three months over a report into government mismanagement. Two senior staff were also banned from practicing journalism because they did not have press identity cards….

Dakar, October 7, 2024—The Committee to Protect Journalists calls for Togolese authorities to hold accountable those responsible for attacking at least six journalists as they covered an opposition party meeting on September 29. “Togolese authorities must urgently identify those responsible for the physical attacks on journalists Hyacinthe Gbloedzro, Godfrey Akpa, Yawo Klousse, Yvette Sossou, Romuald…

Nairobi, October 4, 2024—The Committee to Protect Journalists is concerned about the wellbeing of journalist Yeshihasab Abera, who has yet to appear in court after security personnel took him from his office on September 30 in Amhara State, which has been engulfed in conflict since 2023. Yeshihasab, deputy editor of the state-owned Bekur newspaper, was…

Dakar, October 4, 2024—The Committee to Protect Journalists calls for Senegalese authorities to ensure journalists can operate without fear, following the recent detentions of journalists Kader Dia and Cheikh Yerim Seck and attacks on Ngoné Diop and Maty Sarr Niang in the capital, Dakar. “Senegalese authorities must stop arresting journalists for their work and hold…

Abuja, October 3, 2024—Despite recent reforms to Nigeria’s Cybercrimes Act, journalists continue to be targeted for publishing news in the public interest, with four reporters being charged under the law last month. Cybercrime laws and other regulations governing online content have been widely used to jail journalists around the world. In Nigeria, at least 29…

Abuja, October 2, 2024—The Committee to Protect Journalists calls on Gambian authorities to drop all charges against The Voice newspaper editors, Musa Sekou Sheriff and Momodou Justice Darboe, and to repeal Section 181A of the country’s Criminal Code in line with the regional Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Court’s landmark judgment and recommendations from the country’s Truth, Reconciliation and Reparations Commission. “It is outrageous that President Adama…