Africa

  
Police officers are seen in Buea, Cameroon, on October 3, 2018. Cameroonian journalist Martinez Zogo has been jailed since January. (AFP/Marco Longari)

Cameroonian journalist Martinez Zogo jailed since January on defamation charges

New York, February 18, 2020 — Authorities in Cameroon should immediately release journalist Martinez Zogo, drop all charges against him, and reform the country’s penal code to decriminalize defamation, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today.

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People walk at the premises of Lagos State High Court on January 29, 2019. Nigerian journalist Fejiro Oliver faces cybercrime charges in Lagos for a corruption report. (AFP/Pius Utomi Ekpei)

Nigerian journalist Fejiro Oliver charged with cybercrime for corruption report

Fejiro Oliver, the publisher of the privately owned Secret Reporters news site, is scheduled to appear in court in Nigeria’s southwestern Lagos city on May 28, 2020, after years of adjourned legal proceedings, he told CPJ. Department of State Services (DSS) agents separately questioned him three times about his reporting in 2019, he said. Oliver’s…

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Alfred Olufemi (left) and Gidado Yushau (right) at court on January 13, 2020. (Photo: Adejumo Kabir/Premium Times)

Nigerian police detain News Digest web developer, charge journalists

Nigerian police charged Gidado Yushau, the publisher of the privately owned News Digest news website, and freelance journalist Alfred Olufemi with criminal conspiracy and defamation on November 12, 2019, according to a copy of the charge sheet seen by CPJ. The next court date is scheduled for March 4, 2020, Olufemi told CPJ. If convicted,…

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A woman vendor waits for customers as she uses her phone at the 'Computer Village' in Ikeja district in Nigeria's commercial capital Lagos on May 31, 2017. Nigeria’s police have used telecom surveillance to lure and arrest journalists. (Reuters/Akintunde Akinleye)

How Nigeria’s police used telecom surveillance to lure and arrest journalists

As reporters for Nigeria’s Premium Times newspaper, Samuel Ogundipe and Azeezat Adedigba told CPJ they spoke often over the phone. They had no idea that their regular conversations about work and their personal lives were creating a record of their friendship.

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CrossRiverWatch journalist Agba Jalingo (right) is seen in a federal high court in Calabar, Nigeria. Jalingo is due in court tomorrow on amended charges of cybercrime and terrorism. (Oto-Obongo Clement/CrossRiverWatch)

Jailed Nigerian journalist Agba Jalingo to face cybercrime charge in court

New York, February 12, 2020 — The Committee to Protect Journalists today called on Nigerian authorities to drop all charges against Agba Jalingo, the publisher of the privately owned news website CrossRiverWatch, and set him free. Jalingo is set to appear at a federal high court in Calabar city tomorrow on amended charges, including cybercrime…

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Mexican journalists, wearing personal protective equipment amid the COVID-19 pandemic, cover a protest by administrative workers at the General Balbuena Hospital in Mexico City on April 16, 2020. (AFP/Pedro Pardo)

CPJ Safety Advisory: Covering the coronavirus pandemic

The World Health Organization (WHO) declared the COVID-19 (novel coronavirus) outbreak a pandemic on March 11, 2020.

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A police vehicle is seen after dispersing members of the Islamic Movement of Nigeria in Abuja on July 23, 2019. Journalist Alex Ogbu recently died at an Islamic Movement of Nigeria protest. (Reuters/Afolabi Sotunde)

Nigerian journalist Alex Ogbu dies at protest

Abuja, February 5, 2020 — Nigerian authorities should conduct a credible and transparent investigation into the death of journalist Alex Ogbu, publicize the results of his autopsy, and hold those responsible to account, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today.

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A demonstrator is seen in Banjul, Gambia, on January 25, 2020. Two radio stations were recently shut down and their staffers arrested over their coverage of the protests. (AFP/Romain Chanson)

Gambian radio journalists arrested, outlets shut down over protest coverage

Abuja, Nigeria, January 31, 2020 — Gambian authorities should immediately drop the charges against broadcast journalists Pa Modou Bojang and Gibbi Jallow, and permit the Home Digital FM and King FM radio stations to reopen, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today.

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Four Iwacu journalists, (L to R) Agnes Ndirubusa, Christine Kamikazi, Egide Harerimana, Terence Mpozenzi, and the driver Adolphe Masabarakiza, appear at the High Court in Bubanza, western Burundi, on December 30, 2019. The court today convicted the journalists on state security charges. (AFP/Tchandrou Nitanga)

Burundi court sentences Iwacu journalists to 2.5 years in prison

Nairobi, January 30, 2020 — Burundi authorities should not contest the appeal of four journalists from Iwacu convicted today and should stop filing state security charges against reporters, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today.

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A prison is seen in Hargeisa, Somaliland, on March 29, 2011. Somaliland authorities recently sentenced journalist Abdirahman Mohamed Hiddig to 21 months in prison. (AP/Katharine Houreld)

Somaliland court sentences journalist Abdirahman Mohamed Hiddig to 21 months in prison

Nairobi, January 28, 2020 — Authorities in Somaliland should immediately release journalist Abdirahman Mohamed Hiddig from prison and drop all charges against him, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today.

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