Africa

After a vain search of local hospitals and mortuaries, the family of journalist Maneno Selanyika concluded their mourning rites on November 8 with prayer, but without a body. He was one of three journalists among hundreds or more Tanzanians killed during protests over a disputed election. Selanyika was killed on the evening of October 29,…

Nairobi, December 5, 2025—The Committee to Protect Journalists joined 29 other human rights organizations in urging member and observer states of the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) to “take action to prevent further abuses” in Tanzania, in the wake of a brutal government crackdown following October 29 elections. In their letter, the organizations note…

Abuja, November 26, 2025—The Committee to Protect Journalists calls on Nigerian authorities to release journalist Friday James Alefia, who has been in detention since September on cybercrime charges, for which he could face up to three years in jail. “Nigerian authorities should swiftly drop the cybercrime charges against journalist Friday James Alefia, who has been…

Kinshasa, November 24, 2025—The Committee to Protect Journalists calls on authorities in the Democratic Republic of the Congo to ensure the safety of Michael Tenende, who was threatened with arrest by a mayor after his reporting criticized her governance — the second time Anne-Marie Tshiabu has made such threats against a journalist. “Kabinda mayor Anne-Marie…

Kampala, Uganda, November 21, 2025—The Committee to Protect Journalists calls on South Sudan’s media regulator to rescind its order suspending the online news outlet Hot in Juba and to ensure its journalists can work safely. “The suspension of Hot in Juba on unclear grounds is the latest sign that the South Sudan Media Authority has…

Abuja, November 14, 2025—At least three journalists in Nigeria have been detained since August on allegations of violating the country’s Cybercrime Act, despite last year’s reform of the law, highlighting its ongoing use to harass the media. One journalist, known under the pen name Fejiro Oliver, has been behind bars since mid-September. “Nigerian authorities appear…

Abuja, November 12, 2025—The Committee to Protect Journalists calls on authorities in Benin to release Nigerian YouTube-based travel journalist Matthew Ojoduma, who has been detained on a terrorism charge since January 29. Beninese police arrested Ojoduma, founder of the Africa Views channel, which covers African cities, when he was crossing Benin’s northern border into Burkina…

Dakar, November 7, 2025—The Committee to Protect Journalists calls on Nigerien authorities to free journalists Ibro Chaibou, Youssouf Sériba, and Oumarou Abou Kané who were remanded in southern Niger’s Kollo prison on November 3. The three were initially arrested on October 30 and are accused of sending an invitation to a government news conference to…

Lusaka, November 4, 2025—The Swazi Bridge news site in Eswatini is facing a record-breaking claim for 170 million emalangeni (US$9.8 million) in damages and the threat of terrorism investigations, as part of a growing global trend of using abusive lawsuits to suppress public interest reporting. The Farmers Bank and its director John Asfar alleged defamation…

Abuja, November 3, 2025—As the world marks yet another International Day to End Impunity for Crimes Against Journalists without accountability for the killing of Ghanaian journalist Ahmed Hussein-Suale Divela, the Committee to Protect Journalists calls for global solidarity. Divela, a member of the investigative outlet Tiger Eye PI, was murdered near his family home in…