Mozambique journalist arrested, 2 harassed and robbed at protest
New York, June 7, 2024 — The Committee to Protect Journalists on Friday expressed alarm that police arrested one journalist and two others were robbed of equipment while covering a protest in the Mozambican capital, Maputo. At around 6:00 p.m. on June 4, seven police officers chased and arrested Sheila Wilson while she was reporting…
Journalist says Kenyan official threatened to kill him over report on ambulance shortages
Kampala, June 7, 2024—Kenyan authorities should credibly investigate reports that a government official threatened to kill reporter Douglas Dindi, the Committee to Protect Journalists said Friday. Dindi, who works with the People Daily newspaper, told CPJ that on May 20, David Alilah, Chief Officer of Medical Services in Kenya’s western Kakamega County, threatened to kill…
South Africa police briefly detain journalist Sandiso Phaliso, force him to delete crime scene photographs
South African police arrested freelance journalist Sandiso Phaliso while he was photographing a crime scene in the country’s legislative capital of Cape Town on April 25 and held him for about two hours, the journalist told CPJ. Phaliso, who regularly writes for the non-profit news agency GroundUp, said that he went to a crime scene in…
CPJ calls on Lesotho not to treat reporting on banned music groups as criminal offense
Lusaka, May 31, 2024—Lesotho authorities should withdraw statements equating media interviews with outlawed music groups to criminal offenses and provide guarantees that journalists will not face arrest for doing their jobs, the Committee to Protect Journalists said Friday. During a May 21 press briefing, deputy police commissioner and then-acting head of the police force…
In Nigeria, 2 ICIR journalists summoned, questioned over corruption report
Abuja, May 31, 2024—Nigerian police authorities should immediately drop their criminal investigation into journalist Nurudeen Akewushola and the International Centre for Investigative Reporting (ICIR), and allow them to work free of harassment and fear of arrest, the Committee to Protect Journalists said Friday. On May 20, officers with the Nigeria Police Force-National Cybercrime Center (NPF-NCCC)…
CPJ alarmed by Cameroonian authorities’ use of administrative detention law
Dakar, May 29, 2024 — The Committee to Protect Journalists is highly concerned by a Cameroonian administrator’s use of a law granting him the ability to indefinitely detain journalist Engelbert Mfomo in what he said was retribution for his critical reporting. Cameroonian authorities must reform the country’s laws to ensure journalists cannot be detained for…
CPJ joins call for renewing mandate of UN special rapporteur on Eritrea
The Committee to Protect Journalists on Tuesday joined 30 other non-governmental organizations in urging member and observer states of the United Nations Human Rights Council to extend the mandate of the special rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Eritrea. The special rapporteur reports on and assesses the human rights situation in Eritrea, and…
DRC regulator suspends Bosolo TV program over election commentary
On May 15, 2024, the Democratic Republic of the Congo’s media regulator, the Superior Audiovisual and Communications Council, known by its French acronym CSAC, ordered the privately owned Bosolo TV station to suspend its “Bosolo Na Politik Officielle” program for a month, according to a CSAC video statement posted on X, formerly Twitter, and media reports. According to…
Nigerian journalist Madu Onuorah arrested for alleged defamation, released on bail
New York, May 24, 2024 — Nigerian authorities should drop their investigation into journalist Madu Onuorah and cease arresting journalists in connection with their work, the Committee to Protect Journalists said Friday. Armed police officers from Nigeria’s eastern Enugu and Ebonyi states arrested Onuorah, the publisher and editor-in-chief of Global Upfront Newspapers, at his home…
Journalists assaulted at MK election rally ahead of South Africa elections
Lusaka, May 24, 2024 — South African authorities must investigate and hold to account those responsible for sexually assaulting a woman journalist as well as physically assaulting and harassing other members of the media during an uMkhonto we Sizwe (MK) party political rally on May 18, the Committee to Protect Journalists said on Friday. Men…