In Somalia, two prominent journalists assassinated hours apart
New York, August 13, 2007—Somalia’s U.S. and Ethiopian-backed government arrested two suspects on Sunday in the separate attacks that killed prominent journalists Ali Sharmarke and Mahad Ahmed Elmi of leading independent broadcaster HornAfrik Media in the war-torn capital of Mogadishu. Both were killed on Saturday.
DRC: Radio host jailed for three days over commentary critical of police
August 11, 2007 Posted August 24, 2007 Emmanuel Kabetu Muela, Radio Arc-En-Ciel IMPRISONED Police in the village of Kamako in the central Western Kasaï province arrested Muela, the host of a call-in program on private Radio Arc-En-Ciel, as he walked home from work, according to local journalists.
In DRC, photojournalist assassinated
New York, August 10, 2007— A respected freelance photojournalist in eastern DRC was gunned down on Thursday evening as he returned home from covering a local conference on environmental protection, local journalists told CPJ. CPJ is investigating whether Patrick Kikuku Wilungula—the second journalist killed in Congo’s volatile east this year after Serge Maheshe—was murdered for…
Senegalese newsroom records threat by minister
New York, August 9, 2007—A Senegalese government official accused of lying about his educational degree threatened reporters with violence this week, according to news reports and local journalists. Transport Minister Farba Senghor threatened over a newsroom speakerphone on Tuesday to “beat up” private daily Walf Grand-Place’s reporter Pape Sambaré Ndour, after calling the journalist a…
DRC: Jailed reporter released after five days
August 8, 2007 Original Alert: August 7, 2007 Manda Mutombo, Radiotélévision Nationale CongolaiseIMPRISONED Mutombo, the host of a weekly music program on public broadcaster Radiotélévision Nationale Congolaise in the diamond-rich city of Kananga, was released without charge after five days of detention, according to local journalists. After handing Mutombo a few dollars for transportation, a…
CPJ concerned by Zimbabwe’s sweeping surveillance law
New York, August 8, 2007—A sweeping surveillance law ratified Friday in Zimbabwe will target “imperialist-sponsored journalists with hidden agendas” the country’s information minister told CPJ. Sikhanyiso Ndlovu described the law as intending “to protect the president, a minister, or any citizen from harm.” The Interception of Communications Act will allow authorities to intercept all phone, Internet,…
In DRC, journalist jailed for not airing politician’s interview
New York, August 7, 2007—Intelligence agents in central DRC have jailed a reporter for failing to air an interview with a local politician, according to news reports and local journalists. Manda Mutombo of Radiotélévision Nationale Congolaise was arrested Friday by Congo’s National Intelligence Agency in the diamond-rich city of Kananga, 674 miles (1,085 km) southeast…
In Comoros, government targets critical TV station
New York, August 3, 2007—Journalists in Africa’s Comoros islands say they were prevented from traveling to the separatist island of Anjouan to cover Independence Day celebrations Friday. Local reporters say travel agencies refused to sell them airline tickets. Editor Ibrahim Ali Saïd Félix and cameraman Ismael Kassim of Djabal Télévision, a private station based on…