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…
Four more Ethiopian journalists sentenced; pardon anticipated
New York, August 2, 2007—Ethiopia’s High Court handed down heavy prison sentences to four journalists jailed in connection with their coverage of deadly post-election unrest in 2005, after the journalists waived their defense and pleaded guilty in anticipation of a pardon, according to local sources. All of them worked for now-defunct Amharic-language weeklies. Editors Dawit…
Jailed Gabonese journalist hospitalized, sentenced
New York, August 1, 2007— The director of a private newspaper in Libreville, the capital of Gabon, was handed a suspended prison term and a fine today, but could not appear in court after he was hospitalized as the result of poor detention conditions, local journalists told CPJ. “We condemn this verdict and call…
Jailed Gabonese journalist hospitalized after sentence
New York, August 1, 2007– The director of a private newspaper in Libreville, the capital of Gabon, was handed a suspended prison term and a fine today, but could not appear in court after he was hospitalized as the result of poor detention conditions, local journalists told CPJ. “We condemn this verdict and call…
In Mali, politician assaults journalist over election coverage
New York, July 31, 2007—A few days after being assaulted and threatened by a parliamentarian-elect, a reporter in southern Mali has filed a complaint in a local court. Local politician Mamadou Sinayoko attacked reporter Adama Coulibaly, a presenter at community Radio Kafo-Kan in the southern city of Bougouni, 462 miles (743 km) south of the…
In Gambia, government-held reporter sighted at hospital
New York, July 30, 2007— The Committee to Protect Journalists is concerned by reports that a Gambian reporter, arrested a year ago and since held incommunicado without charge or trial by the government, was briefly admitted last week to Gambia’s main hospital in the capital, Banjul. “Chief” Ebrima B. Manneh, the State House correspondent for…