Africa

  
Journalist Robert Tapfumaneyi is seen being shoved by party security personnel at a political event in Harare, Zimbabwe, on January 21, 2020. (Image credit withheld)

Political party security officials assault Zimbabwean journalist

On January 21, 2020, security officers affiliated with the Movement for Democratic Change Alliance, a Zimbabwean opposition group, barred journalist Robert Tapfumaneyi from covering a meeting in the capital, Harare, assaulted him, and broke his camera lens, according to the journalist, who spoke to CPJ via messaging app, news reports, and a statement by the…

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A man listens to a portable radio in Kano, northern Nigeria in 2015. Police in Nigeria's Adamawa State are investigating after a radio journalist was attacked and killed on January 15. (AP/Ben Curtis)

Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria journalist dies after attack

Abuja, January 23, 2020—Authorities in Nigeria should conduct a swift and credible investigation into the killing of Maxwell Nashan, a reporter and newscaster with the government-owned Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria (FRCN), and determine whether his journalism was the motive for the attack, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today.

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Ugandan politician Robert Kyagulanyi, also known as Bobi Wine, is seen in Kasangati on January 6, 2020. Four journalists were arrested during Wine's visit to Kasangati, and others were questioned by police at another event. (AFP)

Ugandan police harass and detain journalists covering opposition politician Bobi Wine

Nairobi, January 14, 2020 — Ugandan police should drop all charges against journalist Willy Tamale and cease harassing reporters for their political coverage, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today.

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A protest in Chitipa, Malawi, is seen on January 10, 2020. A group of protesters assaulted reporter Patricia Kayuni at the demonstration. (Photo by Masozi Kasambara)

Journalist Patricia Kayuni assaulted while covering protest in Malawi

New York, January 14, 2019 — Malawian authorities should conduct a thorough and transparent investigation into the assault of journalist Patricia Kayuni and ensure that those responsible are held to account, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today.

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Steve Zimba and Golden Matonga soon after their release in Lilongwe on January 8, 2020. (Steve Zimba)

Malawi detains, charges 3 journalists seeking to cover EU delegation’s return

New York, January 10, 2020 — Malawian authorities should drop the prosecution of three journalists who wanted to cover the return to the country on January 8 of a European Union electoral observer mission, but were instead detained for two hours at Kamuzu International Airport in Lilongwe, the capital, and charged with disorderly conduct, the…

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A police officer is seen in Freetown, Sierra Leone, on March 27, 2015. Journalists covering a local politician were recently attacked in two separate incidents in Sierra Leone. (AP/Michael Duff)

Journalists threatened, assaulted while covering local politician in Sierra Leone

Abuja, January 10, 2020 — Authorities in Sierra Leone should investigate recent attacks against journalists covering local politics, and should ensure that reporters can do their jobs safely, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today.

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Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, is seen on July 12, 2013. Tanzanian authorities recently banned one online TV station and fined two others. (Reuters/Andrew Emmanuel)

Tanzanian authorities ban online TV station, fine 2 others

On September 27, 2019, Tanzania’s broadcasting regulator suspended the privately owned internet-based broadcaster Kwanza Online TV for six months and fined two other online stations, Watetezi TV and Ayo TV, according to statements by Kwanza Online TV and the Tanzania Human Rights Defenders Coalition, a network of local nongovernmental organizations, which owns Watetezi TV.

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Police forces are seen in N'Djamena, Chad, on June 15, 2015. Police recently arrested journalist Ali Hamata Achène for alleged defamation and contempt of court. (AFP/Brahim Adji)

Chadian journalist detained since December 26 over defamation complaint

Vancouver, Canada, January 6, 2020 — Authorities in Chad should release journalist Ali Hamata Achène, and stop pursuing criminal defamation and retaliatory cases against reporters, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today.

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Four journalists from Burundian news outlet Iwacu (from left) Agnes Ndirubusa, Christine Kamikazi, Terence Mpozenzi, and Egide Harerimana--and their driver Adolphe Masabarakiza--appear at the High Court in Bubanza, western Burundi, on December 30, 2019, charged with undermining state security. (AFP/Tchandrou Nitanga)

Burundi prosecutor seeks 15-year prison term for Iwacu journalists

Nairobi, January 3, 2020—Burundi’s public prosecutor on December 30 asked for a 15-year prison term for four journalists for privately owned online news outlet Iwacu and their driver who are charged with undermining state security, according to Iwacu and other news reports. The prosecutor is also seeking to have the five stripped of their right…

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Brass work hangs at the entrance to Igun Street in the Edo state capital of Benin City, in June 2018. A journalist for Rave Television was attacked while covering a protest in the Nigerian city in November 2019. (Reuters/Akintunde Akinleye)

Assailants attack Rave Television journalist, break camera during Nigeria protest

On November 9, 2019, a group of people attacked Jimoh Ogirima, a journalist with the privately owned broadcaster Rave Television, in Nigeria’s southern Edo State, and damaged his camera while he filmed a protest, according to the news website Newspad, the Ghana-based press freedom organization Media Foundation for West Africa (MFWA), and Ogirima, who spoke…

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