Africa Archives - Page 96 of 480 - Committee to Protect Journalists

A police officer clears shoppers from a market on the first day of lockdown to stop the spread of COVID-19 disease in Monrovia, Liberia, on April 11, 2020. The government says the right to free expression is suspended during the state of emergency. (Reuters/Derick Snyder)

Liberia’s journalists wary as authorities announce new press passes, threaten shutdowns

May 7, 2020 4:29 PM EDT

When the coronavirus arrived in Liberia, local journalists knew what it meant to report on a deadly, infectious disease; six years earlier they had donned personal protective equipment (PPE) to report on the Ebola crisis, Musa Kenneh, the Press Union of Liberia’s secretary general, told CPJ. But this time, Kenneh said, threatening comments from government…

Eritrean soldiers are seen near the border with Ethiopia on September 11, 2018. CPJ recently joined a letter urging the UN to maintain pressure on Eritrea. (AFP)

CPJ joins letter calling on UN Human Rights Council to maintain pressure on Eritrea

May 6, 2020 1:25 PM EDT

The Committee to Protect Journalists joined 23 other free speech and human rights organizations in a letter sent yesterday urging the United Nations Human Rights Council to extend the mandate of the special rapporteur on the human rights situation in Eritrea.

CPJ, 192 partner organizations urge UN Secretary General to take action to secure release of jailed journalists amid COVID-19

May 5, 2020 10:31 AM EDT

The #FreeThePress campaign, made up of 193 press freedom and human rights organizations and the more than 11,337 concerned citizens who signed the petition, urges the UN secretary general to take immediate action to secure the release of journalists jailed around the world whose lives are risk due to the spread of COVID-19.

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 journalists plan to appeal their sentence. (AFP/Tchandrou Nitanga)

CPJ calls on Burundi to release 4 Iwacu journalists on appeal

May 4, 2020 1:40 PM EDT

Nairobi, May 4, 2020 — In advance of an upcoming appeal hearing for four journalists at Burundian news website Iwacu, who were sentenced to 2.5 years in prison in January, the Committee to Protect Journalists issued the following statement:

Swazi King Mswati III addresses the United Nations General Assembly in New York on September 25, 2019. Swazi authorities recently detained and harassed journalists writing about the king. (AP/Craig Ruttle)

Swaziland journalists harassed, threatened with treason charges over reporting on king

April 30, 2020 5:05 PM EDT

New York, April 30, 2020 — Swaziland police should stop intimidating and harassing local journalists for reporting critically about King Mswati III and should allow them to write freely without the threat of treason charges, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today.

Police officers are seen in Mogadishu, Somalia, on April 16, 2020. Somali authorities have been holding journalist Mohamed Abdiwahab Nuur incommunicado since early March. (Reuters/Feisal Omar)

Somali journalist Mohamed Abdiwahab Nuur held incommunicado since early March

April 30, 2020 3:00 PM EDT

Nairobi, April 30, 2020 — Somali authorities should immediately release radio journalist Mohamed Abdiwahab Nuur and allow him to work freely, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today.

Soldiers are seen in Freetown, Sierra Leone, on March 31, 2018. Security forces recently assaulted and detained journalist Fayia Amara Fayia. (Reuters/Olivia Acland)

Sierra Leone security forces attack, charge journalist covering COVID-19

April 28, 2020 4:31 PM EDT

Abuja, April 28, 2020 — Authorities in Sierra Leone should immediately drop all charges against journalist Fayia Amara Fayia and ensure those responsible for the attacks against him are held accountable, the Committee to Protect Journalist said today.

President Filipe Jacinto Nyusi is seen in Maputo, Mozambique, on January 15, 2020. CPJ recently joined a letter to Nyusi expressing concern about the disappearance of journalist Ibraimo Abú Mbaruco. (Reuters/Grant Lee Neuenburg)

CPJ joins letter to Mozambican president about enforced disappearance of journalist Ibraimo Abú Mbaruco

April 28, 2020 6:00 AM EDT

The Committee to Protect Journalists joined 16 other civil society groups today in sending a letter to Mozambican President Filipe Jacinto Nyusi expressing concern about the deteriorating human rights situation in northern Cabo Delgado province, including the enforced disappearance of radio journalist Ibraimo Abú Mbaruco.

A vendor wears a mask as a preventive measure against the spread of the COVID-19 coronavirus in Cotonou on April 8, 2020. CPJ and partner organizations called for the release of Beninese journalist Ignace Sossou on appeal. (Yanick Folly/AFP)

CPJ, partners call for release of Beninese journalist Ignace Sossou on appeal

April 27, 2020 10:14 AM EDT

New York, April 27, 2020—Today the group of undersigned organizations called on authorities in Benin to immediately release imprisoned journalist Ignace Sossou on appeal and ensure that he does not continue to face undue risk of coronavirus exposure in ongoing detention.

A police officer is seen in Lagos, Nigeria, on March 26, 2020. Police recently arrested two journalists for their work in Ebonyi state. (AFP/Pius Utomi Ekpei)

Nigerian police arrest, detain 2 journalists in Ebonyi state

April 24, 2020 10:35 AM EDT

[Editors’ Note: This article has been changed in its headline and fifth paragraph to reflect the Ebonyi governor’s more recent statements.] Abuja, April 24, 2020 — Authorities in Nigeria should stop harassing journalists Peter Okutu and Chijioke Agwu, and must cease using COVID-19-related laws to stifle the press, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today.