Senegal broadcasters Sen TV and ZIK FM suspended 72 hours over alleged breach of ethics
On March 31, 2022, Senegal’s official broadcast media regulator, the National Council for Audiovisual Regulation (known by its French acronym, CNRA), announced a 72-hour suspension of all programing by local broadcasters ZIK FM and Sen TV for “repeated breaches of ethics” that violated “principles of objectivity, neutrality, fairness, and balance,” according to a press release…
Two Congolese journalists detained for 5 months after covering a protest
Kinshasa, May 17, 2022 – Authorities in the Democratic Republic of the Congo must ensure the immediate release of journalists Patrick Lola and Christian Bofaya, who have been arbitrarily detained without charge for five months in the central prison of Mbandaka, the provincial capital of Equateur, the Committee to Protect Journalists said Tuesday. On January…
Ethiopia expels Economist correspondent Tom Gardner
Nairobi, May 16, 2022–The Committee to Protect Journalists on Monday condemned Ethiopia’s expulsion of Economist correspondent Tom Gardner, following the revocation of his press accreditation on Friday, May 13. Gardner’s expulsion came almost a year after Ethiopian authorities similarly expelled New York Times reporter Simon Marks and within the context of a deteriorating press freedom…
Chadian journalist Olivier Memnguidé held for five days, accused of rebellion
Dakar, May 12, 2022 — Authorities in Chad should cease their harassment of reporter Olivier Memnguidé and ensure journalists can cover events of public interest, the Committee to Protect Journalists said Thursday. On April 20, the Chadian gendarmerie, a military police force, arrested Memnguidé, a correspondent for the privately owned radio station Oxygène, as he…
Ethiopian journalist Gobeze Sisay held for more than a week, interrogated about reporting
Nairobi, May 12, 2022 — Ethiopian authorities must thoroughly investigate the detention of journalist Gobeze Sisay and ensure that members of the press are not held for their work, the Committee to Protect Journalists said Thursday. At about 10 a.m. on May 1, a group of eight armed men in plainclothes stormed Gobeze’s residence in…
Zimbabwe police detain and charge 2 journalists covering attempted arrest of opposition politician
Lusaka, May 11, 2022 – Zimbabwean authorities should immediately drop all charges against journalists Blessed Mhlanga and Chengeto Chidi, as well as Moses Hakata, and let them work freely, the Committee to Protect Journalists said Wednesday. On Saturday, May 7, police arrested both journalists after they photographed officers attempting to detain an opposition lawmaker in…
DRC authorities detain 3 journalists for over a week in insult case
Dakar, May 10, 2022 — Congolese authorities should immediately drop all criminal proceedings against journalists Albert Muhila, Dieu Agba, and Patrick Gbondo, and reform the country’s laws to ensure journalists are not jailed in connection with their work, the Committee to Protect Journalists said Tuesday. On April 22, officers with the Congolese National Police Mobile…
CPJ calls for investigation of fire at Liberia’s Radio Kintoma
Abuja, May 9, 2022 — Liberian authorities should investigate the recent fire at Radio Kintoma FM to determine if it was an arson attack and make the findings public, the Committee to Protect Journalists said Monday. At about 4 a.m. on April 23, neighbors of the Radio Kintoma’s station office in Voinjama, the capital of…
Botswana journalists remain ‘vigilant’ under new surveillance law
When Botswana’s government sought to pass a new law early this year that would have allowed for warrantless surveillance, local opposition came swift. Authorities eventually introduced judicial oversight, which local media groups considered a success, but the Botswana police’s history of searching journalists’ devices and accessing their telecom information remains cause for concern. “We do…
Angolan security forces attack journalists covering evictions in Luanda
On April 13, 2022, military and police officers in the Angolan capital of Luanda prevented reporters Daniel Fernandes and Romão De Jesus from reporting on the demolition of homes to make way for a new airport in the city, according to media reports and both journalists, who spoke to CPJ by phone and message app….