Kenya police threaten to summon Citizen TV staff over investigation into illegal gun trade
Nairobi, April 22, 2021 – Kenyan police should cease harassing the Royal Media Services company and its Citizen TV broadcaster, refrain from summoning journalists for questioning, and ensure that members of the press can work without fear, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today. On April 20, George Kinoti, the director of the National Police…
Local official orders 2 journalists detained during municipal meeting in Tanzania
On April 12, 2021, security personnel with Tanzania’s Temeke municipality briefly detained two broadcast reporters—Dickson Billikwija with the privately owned Islands TV, and Christopher James of the privately owned ITV and Radio One—at a local official’s request, according to news reports and both journalists, who spoke to CPJ via messaging app. That official, Lusubilo Mwakabibi—the…
Angolan journalist Jorge Manuel arrested, detained for 5 days while reporting on evictions
New York, April 15, 2021 – Angolan authorities must refrain from arresting members of the press covering public events, and should return all equipment confiscated from journalist Jorge Manuel, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today. On April 7, police officers arrested Manuel, a reporter for the Radio Despertar broadcaster, while he was covering protests…
Police detain Ghanaian journalist David Tamakloe overnight in relation to ‘false news’ complaint
Abuja, April 14, 2021 — Police in Ghana should drop their investigation into journalist David Tamakloe and allow him to report freely, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today. On April 1, in Accra, the capital, four police officers in plainclothes arrested Tamakloe, editor-in-chief of the privately owned Whatsup News website, and detained him for…
Cameroonian journalist Emmanuel Mbombog Mbog Matip detained since August 2020
New York, April 14, 2021 — Cameroonian authorities should immediately release journalist Emmanuel Mbombog Mbog Matip and all other members of the press imprisoned for their work, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today. On August 17, 2020, six armed men in plainclothes arrested Mbombog Mbog Matip, director of the privately owned CliMat Social newspaper…
Malawi police question journalist Watipaso Mzungu over article calling president ‘a joker’
On April 6, 2021, police in the Malawi capital of Lilongwe interrogated Watipaso Mzungu, the chief reporter of the privately owned news website Nyasa Times, about an article he published on April 2, according to the journalist, who spoke to CPJ via messaging app, and a report by his outlet. In that article, Mzungu quoted…
Nigerian governor threatens to ‘deal with’ journalists who covered 2018 corruption case
On March 19, 2021, Abdullahi Ganduje, the governor of Nigeria’s northern Kano state, said in an interview with the BBC’s Hausa-language service that he planned to “deal with” journalists who produced a 2018 series of videos published by the privately owned Daily Nigerian news website, which alleged that he had received bribes. “We are making…
Radio Capital FM journalists face criminal defamation investigation in Guinea-Bissau
Lisbon, April 7, 2021 — Authorities in Guinea-Bissau should drop their criminal defamation investigation into the privately owned broadcaster Radio Capital FM and two of its journalists, and reform its defamation laws, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today. On February 9, the public prosecutor’s office issued a summons to Radio Capital FM asking for…
Congolese security forces threaten 2 radio stations over reports on military abuse
Dakar, April 6, 2021 — Congolese authorities must ensure the safety of journalists at the privately owned broadcaster Radio Télé Communautaire Babombi (RTCB) and the community broadcaster Radio Communautaire Amkeni Biakato (RCAB), and should refrain from threatening them over their reporting, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today. Security forces have repeatedly threatened and intimidated…
Journalist Adão Ramalho assaulted, escapes abduction attempt in Guinea-Bissau
Lisbon, March 30, 2021 — Authorities in Guinea-Bissau should investigate the assault and attempted abduction of journalist Adão Ramalho, and ensure that those responsible are held to account, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today. On March 12, in the capital, Bissau, five armed men in plain clothes attacked and tried to abduct Ramalho, a…