Africa

A key Senegalese rebel leader, César Atoute Badiate, has broken his silence on jailed journalist René Capain Bassène, refuting the prosecution’s claim that Bassène was a militant fighting for independence of the Casamance region who incited him to murder 14 illegal loggers in 2018.  “René Capain Bassène is neither an MFDC representative nor a leader…

The Committee to Protect Journalists wrote to Zambia’s President Hakainde Hichilema expressing concern over recent attacks on journalists and legislation that negatively impacts the media, as the country prepares to host the United Nations’ World Press Freedom Day 2026 Global Conference on May 3. The letter also calls on Hichilema to create a safe and…

New York, April 24, 2026—Uganda is set to pass a foreign agents bill, whose sweeping provisions could be used to imprison journalists critically reporting on economics, foreign policy, or elections for up to 20 years, limit foreign media funding to about $100,000, and subject newsrooms to intrusive state oversight. The Protection of Sovereignty Bill says…

Lusaka, April 22, 2026—For months, lawyer Josiah Kalala has been working late into the night on a case he believes could define the future of press freedom in Zambia: preparing arguments, reviewing legal provisions, and consulting colleagues. Kalala, who heads Chapter One Foundation, a local human rights group, hopes that the hundreds of hours he…

New York, April 17, 2026—The Committee to Protect Journalists calls on Angolan authorities to investigate the harassment of Folha 8 reporter Hermenegildo Caculo, who was illegally detained for almost four days for attempting to cover a protest last week — the third time he was arrested while reporting on demonstrations in less than a year….

Nairobi, April 16, 2026—The Committee to Protect Journalists calls on Ethiopian authorities to do everything in their power to locate and free Addis Standard managing editor Million Beyene who was taken by unidentified men from his newsroom in the capital Addis Ababa on Wednesday morning. The outlet’s publisher Jakenn Publishing PLC said in a statement…

Kampala, April 13, 2026—The Committee to Protect Journalists urges Tanzanian authorities to immediately lift the 90-day suspension imposed on Jambo TV over its YouTube and Instagram posts and allow the outlet to resume operations without delay. In an April 2 notice, the Tanzania Communications Regulatory Authority (TCRA) said the digital broadcaster had published “unverified” and…

Kampala, April 9, 2026—The Committee to Protect Journalists calls on authorities in South Sudan to urgently reform its new cybercrimes law, which punishes defamation with up to five years in prison, criminalizes speech on overbroad grounds, and fails to protect whistleblowers and public interest reporting. While government officials maintain the law is intended to address…

Lusaka, April 3, 2026—The Committee to Protect Journalists calls on Zimbabwean authorities to urgently investigate the harassment and violence against journalists covering March 31 public hearings in the capital, Harare, to discuss a bill to extend President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s rule. Chaos has marred four days of hearings, hosted by Parliament and ending on April 2, to debate the Constitutional…

New York, April 1, 2026—The Committee to Protect Journalists calls for the release of journalist Abdiqani Abdirahman Mohamed, also known as Dhulmar, who has been held without charge since March 26 over a video that criticized President Abdiqadir Ahmed Aw-Ali of the newly-formed Northeastern State of Somalia. “Abdiqani Abdirahman Mohamed has committed no crime, and…