Africa

  
Security forces are seen in Niamey, Niger, on March 15, 2020. Police recently arrested journalist Kaka Touda Mamane Goni over his posts on social media about the COVID-19 pandemic. (AFP/Boureima Hama)

Journalist Kaka Touda Mamane Goni arrested in Niger over COVID-19 report

New York, March 24, 2020 — Authorities in Niger should immediately release journalist Kaka Touda Mamane Goni and halt legal proceedings against him, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today.

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A man wearing a surgical mask and gloves to protect himself from the coronavirus, walks on a street in Soweto, South Africa, Thursday, March 19, 2020. For most people the virus causes only mild or moderate symptoms. For others it can cause more severe illness, especially in older adults and people with existing health problems. (AP/Themba Hadebe)

South Africa enacts regulations criminalizing ‘disinformation’ on coronavirus outbreak

New York, March 19, 2020 – The Committee to Protect Journalists expressed concern over newly passed regulations in South Africa that criminalize disinformation about the COVID-19 pandemic and could potentially prompt other countries to adopt more repressive rules and censorship against the press.

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Newspapers are seen in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, on June 24, 2019. Police recently arrested two journalists and their driver in Burayu, a town in the Oromia region. (AFP/Eduardo Soteras)

Two journalists and a driver arrested, held without charge in Ethiopia

Nairobi, March 18, 2020 — Authorities in Ethiopia should immediately and unconditionally release journalists Dessu Dulla and Wako Nole and media worker Ismael Abdulrzaq, and let them work freely, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today.

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Liberian journalists protest against authorities' alleged brutality against their colleagues in Monrovia, Liberia, on March 12, 2020. (FrontPage Africa/Alline Dunbar)

Liberian journalists harassed, arrested by security forces

Since February 13, 2020, Liberian security forces have harassed, assaulted, or detained at least four journalists during the course of their work, according to the journalists, who spoke with CPJ, and a petition from the Press Union of Liberia, an independent media workers’ advocacy group.

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Police are seen in Monrovia, Liberia, on January 6, 2020. Police recently arrested journalist Kolubah Bobo Akoi over his Facebook posts. (AFP/Carielle Doe)

Liberian journalist Kolubah Bobo Akoi arrested over Facebook posts

Abuja, Nigeria, March 12, 2020 — Liberian authorities should drop the police investigation into journalist Kolubah Bobo Akoi’s work and allow him to cover the news freely, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today.

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Police officers are seen in Accra, Ghana, on March 28, 2018. Police recently arrested Radio Tongu director Bestway Zottor, and authorities suspended the station's broadcast license. (Reuters/Francis Kokoroko)

Radio Tongu broadcaster suspended, director arrested in Ghana

Abuja, Nigeria, March 11, 2020 — Ghanaian authorities should lift the suspension on broadcaster Radio Tongu and drop the police investigation against journalist Bestway Zottor, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today.

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People are seen at a newspaper stand in Port Harcourt, Nigeria, on February 27, 2019. Nigerian journalists at the Premium Times recently faced cyberattacks and harassment. (AFP/Yasuyoshi Chiba)

Nigeria’s Premium Times faces cyberattacks, intimidation of journalists after publishing leaked documents

New York, March 6, 2020 — Nigerian authorities should ensure that Premium Times employees are able to work in safety and without interference or intimidation, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today.

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A police officer is seen in Cameroon's Far North Region on September 29, 2018. Journalist Adalbert Hiol has been jailed in Cameroon since November 2019. (AFP/Alexis Huguet)

Journalist Adalbert Hiol jailed since November in Cameroon

New York, March 5, 2020 — Authorities in Cameroon should not contest journalist Adalbert Hiol’s appeal of a false news and defamation conviction and should let his newspaper publish freely, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today.

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Ugandan opposition politician and popular musician Robert Kyagulanyi, also known as Bobi Wine (C), is escorted by a police officer as he is arrested on charges of unlawful assembly before starting his first public meeting ahead of presidential election next year, on January 6, 2020, in Kasangati town, a suburb of Kampala. Ugandan journalist Moses Bwayo was charged with illegal assembly and held in prison on March 4. (AFP/Stringer)

Ugandan journalist Moses Bwayo charged with illegal assembly, held in prison

Nairobi, March 4, 2020—The Committee to Protect Journalists today called on authorities in Uganda to drop all charges and to immediately release freelance journalist and documentary filmmaker Moses Bwayo, to return his equipment undamaged, and to allow him to continue his work without intimidation.

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Christopher Walker (center, in red) is seen being removed from the press area in Samuel Kanyon Doe Sport Stadium in Monrovia, Liberia, on January 23, 2020. (FrontPage Africa)

Liberian police assault editor Christopher Walker at soccer tournament

On January 23, 2020, officers of the Liberia National Police assaulted Christopher Walker, the sports editor of the privately owned daily newspaper FrontPage Africa, during the semi-final of a national soccer tournament at the Samuel Kanyon Doe Sport Stadium in Monrovia, the capital, according to Walker, who spoke to CPJ via messaging app, local news…

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