Committee to Protect Journalists - Africa tag:cpj.org,2008-09-16://1 2013-06-18T19:57:42Z Movable Type 4.38 Zimbabwean journalists targeted amid pre-election tension tag:cpj.org,2013://1.21927 2013-06-18T19:19:43Z 2013-06-18T19:57:42Z Cape Town, South Africa, June 18, 2013--All parties in Zimbabwe's government of national unity must respect the responsibility of journalists to document events and report the views of citizens, especially in the run-up to the country's elections in July, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today. In four different... Committee to Protect Journalists A Zimbabwean citizen passes election posters advertising election candidates. At least four journalists have been attacked in the lead-up to the elections in July. (AFP/Alexander Joe)

Cape Town, South Africa, June 18, 2013--All parties in Zimbabwe's government of national unity must respect the responsibility of journalists to document events and report the views of citizens, especially in the run-up to the country's elections in July, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today. In four different cases this month, reporters have been attacked apparently in connection with their coverage of the country's two major political parties.

]]> Security officials arrest Burundian TV journalist tag:cpj.org,2013://1.21922 2013-06-17T20:51:40Z 2013-06-17T21:10:35Z Nairobi, June 17, 2013--Authorities in Burundi have been holding a journalist since Thursday on broad allegations of breaching national security, according to news reports. The Committee to Protect Journalists is concerned about the detention of Lucien Rukevya and calls on authorities to disclose its reasons for holding him.... Committee to Protect Journalists Nairobi, June 17, 2013--Authorities in Burundi have been holding a journalist since Thursday on broad allegations of breaching national security, according to news reports. The Committee to Protect Journalists is concerned about the detention of Lucien Rukevya and calls on authorities to disclose its reasons for holding him.

]]> Journalists threatened, obstructed in Cameroon tag:cpj.org,2013://1.21903 2013-06-14T15:08:33Z 2013-06-14T16:29:16Z New York, June 14, 2013---Authorities in Cameroon should investigate reports of journalists being threatened and obstructed from covering the site of an airplane crash on Monday, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today."We are alarmed by reports of obstruction and intimidation involving an officer of Cameroon's top elite security... Committee to Protect Journalists BIR officers, like this one seen here, obstructed journalists from covering the site of a plane crash. (AFP/Reinnier Kaze)

New York, June 14, 2013---Authorities in Cameroon should investigate reports of journalists being threatened and obstructed from covering the site of an airplane crash on Monday, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today.

"We are alarmed by reports of obstruction and intimidation involving an officer of Cameroon's top elite security unit, the BIR," said CPJ Africa Advocacy Coordinator Mohamed Keita. "We call on authorities to conduct credible investigations and sanction any officers involved."

]]> Journalist convicted on defamation charges in Cameroon tag:cpj.org,2013://1.21895 2013-06-13T16:42:51Z 2013-06-17T21:14:36Z New York, June 13, 2013--A Cameroonian appellate court should overturn on appeal a criminal defamation conviction and sentence handed to a journalist on June 5 in the commercial city of Douala, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today.... Committee to Protect Journalists New York, June 13, 2013--A Cameroonian appellate court should overturn on appeal a criminal defamation conviction and sentence handed to a journalist on June 5 in the commercial city of Douala, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today.

]]> Independent daily suspended indefinitely in Somaliland tag:cpj.org,2013://1.21888 2013-06-12T17:53:07Z 2013-06-12T19:27:35Z Nairobi, June 12, 2013--The acting attorney general in the semi-autonomous republic of Somaliland should withdraw his request to suspend the independent daily Hubaal, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today. A court ruled on Tuesday that the paper had been indefinitely suspended at the request of Aden Ahmed Mouse,... Committee to Protect Journalists A Hargeisa resident reads the Hubaal paper before the daily's suspension. (Barkhad Dahir)

Nairobi, June 12, 2013--The acting attorney general in the semi-autonomous republic of Somaliland should withdraw his request to suspend the independent daily Hubaal, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today. A court ruled on Tuesday that the paper had been indefinitely suspended at the request of Aden Ahmed Mouse, according to news reports.

]]> Four newspapers suspended in Republic of Congo tag:cpj.org,2013://1.21871 2013-06-07T15:07:06Z 2013-06-07T15:50:29Z New York, June 7, 2013--Authorities in the Republic of Congo should lift the suspensions against four weekly newspapers in connection with their articles critical of government officials, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today. The suspensions were handed down by an official board whose 11 members are all hand-picked by... Committee to Protect Journalists New York, June 7, 2013--Authorities in the Republic of Congo should lift the suspensions against four weekly newspapers in connection with their articles critical of government officials, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today. The suspensions were handed down by an official board whose 11 members are all hand-picked by the president.

]]> Chad should release journalists from detention tag:cpj.org,2013://1.21827 2013-06-05T18:05:41Z 2013-06-05T18:22:11Z Your Excellency Idriss Deby Itno: We are writing to express our concern about the ongoing imprisonment of Chadian journalists on anti-state charges. We believe the arrests of these reporters, simply for writing articles critical of the administration, turn dissenting citizens into criminals and stifle legitimate debate on issues of public interest. Committee to Protect Journalists Ethiopia holds reporter covering evictions in dam region tag:cpj.org,2013://1.21812 2013-05-30T22:07:03Z 2013-05-31T19:21:03Z New York, May 30, 2012--Ethiopian authorities have detained since Friday a reporter who sought to interview people evicted from their homes in a region where the government is building a contentious hydro-electric dam on the Blue Nile, according to a news report and the reporter's editor. The Committee to Protect... Committee to Protect Journalists New York, May 30, 2012--Ethiopian authorities have detained since Friday a reporter who sought to interview people evicted from their homes in a region where the government is building a contentious hydro-electric dam on the Blue Nile, according to a news report and the reporter's editor. The Committee to Protect Journalists said today that the case highlights authorities' disregard for the rule of law and its systematic efforts to suppress news critical of government officials.

]]> Gunmen in Kismayo attack Somali reporter tag:cpj.org,2013://1.21808 2013-05-30T16:51:55Z 2013-05-30T16:54:15Z Committee to Protect Journalists Nairobi, May 30, 2013--Authorities in the Jubbaland region of Somalia must apprehend the gunmen who attacked freelance journalist Abdulkadir Abdirisak in the southern port town of Kismayo on Wednesday evening, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today. 

]]> Monitor, Red Pepper closures spark protests in Uganda tag:cpj.org,2013://1.21806 2013-05-29T20:36:22Z 2013-05-29T20:51:25Z Nairobi, May 29, 2013--Ugandan police on Tuesday assaulted and detained several journalists who were among a crowd of demonstrators protesting the government's closure of four independent news outlets, according to news reports and local journalists. The Committee to Protect Journalists said today that the police actions only highlight the... Committee to Protect Journalists A journalist is obstructed from reporting on the protest outside the offices of the Monitor. (Facebook)

Nairobi, May 29, 2013--Ugandan police on Tuesday assaulted and detained several journalists who were among a crowd of demonstrators protesting the government's closure of four independent news outlets, according to news reports and local journalists. The Committee to Protect Journalists said today that the police actions only highlight the government's continuing effort to suppress information concerning a supposed assassination plot.

"Having silenced news outlets for coverage of a critical public issue, Ugandan authorities are now trying to suppress protesters who want to call attention to the censorship," said CPJ East Africa Consultant Tom Rhodes. "The indefinite closure of these media outlets serves as a daily reminder that the government wants to deny its citizens important sources of news and information."

]]> DRC journalist found dead after missing for 12 days tag:cpj.org,2013://1.21785 2013-05-23T16:34:37Z 2013-05-23T16:45:07Z Abuja, Nigeria, May 23, 2013--Authorities in the Democratic Republic of Congo should identify the motive behind the murder of a radio presenter who was found on Friday after being missing for 12 days, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today.... Committee to Protect Journalists Abuja, Nigeria, May 23, 2013--Authorities in the Democratic Republic of Congo should identify the motive behind the murder of a radio presenter who was found on Friday after being missing for 12 days, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today.

]]> Press must be able to work freely in South Sudan tag:cpj.org,2013://1.21775 2013-05-22T15:15:56Z 2013-05-22T15:38:27Z Dear President Salva Kiir Mayardit: We are writing to express our deep concern about the deteriorating state of press freedom in your country. In the past six months, CPJ has documented several cases of attacks, intimidation, and detention of journalists by security agents in South Sudan and we are concerned that this harassment has led to self-censorship and even exile among the local press corps. We urge you to use the power of your office to ensure that journalists are allowed to work freely without harassment and censure from state security officials. Committee to Protect Journalists May 22, 2013

His Excellency President Salva Kiir Mayardit
Office of the President, State House
Juba, South Sudan
Via email

Dear President Salva Kiir Mayardit,

We are writing to express our deep concern about the deteriorating state of press freedom in your country. In the past six months, CPJ has documented several cases of attacks, intimidation, and detention of journalists by security agents in South Sudan and we are concerned that this harassment has led to self-censorship and even exile among the local press corps. We urge you to use the power of your office to ensure that journalists are allowed to work freely without harassment and censure from state security officials.

In the past six months, CPJ has documented at least 12 cases of attacks, harassment, and detention of journalists in South Sudan. In all but two of the cases, security officials were the perpetrators. Security agents, including police, have routinely harassed, intimidated, and occasionally detained journalists.

The latest episode occurred on May 2, when Deputy Interior Minister Salva Mathok Gengdit ordered the unlawful detention of the chief and managing editors of the private daily Juba Monitor for publishing a statement that implicated him in the March murder of a traffic policeman, according to news reports. Gengdit denied the allegations, according to news reports. In early April, security agents arbitrarily detained and threatened a Miraya FM journalist in Malakal, and in January, security officials arrested seven journalists in an apparent attempt to stifle reporting on a violent crackdown on protesters in the city of Wau.

Local journalists have told CPJ that this official intimidation has caused them to censor themselves and, in some cases, even flee the country. In December 2012 and January 2013, two outspoken columnists, Zehariah Manyok and John Penn de Ngong, went into exile after receiving anonymous threats, according to news reports and CPJ research.

Mr. President, official threats and attacks against the press violate Article 24 of South Sudan's transitional constitution, which stipulates that "all levels of government shall guarantee the freedom of the press."

While it is encouraging that the Media Authority Bill, which was designed to provide the press with an independent regulator, was signed into law this week, the state must also address security concerns of journalists in South Sudan. In your New Year's address, you expressed concern about the cases of harassment, abuse, and arbitrary detention of members of the public who are critical of the government. In your statement, you called such actions "unacceptable" and disrespectful to those who fought for South Sudan's independence.

We urge you to ensure that security agents who continue to intimidate and censor the South Sudanese press face consequences up to and including criminal prosecution. Such a firm response to these violations will restore confidence among the local media and ensure that the freedoms for which your government fought will be upheld.

Sincerely,

Joel Simon
Executive Director


CC List:

H.E. Salva Kiir Mayardit, President of the Republic of South Sudan

H.E. Riek Machar, Vice-President of the Republic of South Sudan

Barnaba Marial, Minister of Information of South Sudan

General Alison Manani Magaya, Minister of Interior of South Sudan

Atem Yak Atem, Deputy Minister of Information of South Sudan

Hanne-Marie Kaarstad, Norway Ambassador to South Sudan

Susan D. Page, U.S. Ambassador to South Sudan

Ian Hughes, U.K. Ambassador to South Sudan

Kees Van Baar, Netherlands Ambassador to South Sudan

Ariane Quentier, United Nations Mission in South Sudan Spokesperson

Joseph Karangwa, Head of Office, International Monetary Fund 

Monica Moore, USAID Deputy General Development Officer

Catherine Ashton, High Representative of the European Union

Elizabeth Carriere, Head of DFID, South Sudan

Oliver Modi, Chairman of the Union of Journalists in South Sudan

Biel Boutrous, Chairperson of South Sudan Human Rights Society

Edmond Yakani, Chairperson of the Community Empowerment for Progress Organisation

David de Dau, Executive Director, Agency for Independent Media

]]> Police raid news outlets in media crackdown in Uganda tag:cpj.org,2013://1.21766 2013-05-21T15:07:49Z 2013-05-21T15:27:50Z Nairobi, May 21, 2013--Ugandan police surrounded the Kampala offices of two private newspapers for seven hours on Monday, barring access to the premises, disabling printing presses, and effectively halting publication indefinitely, according to news reports. The police said they had search warrants to find documents related to a letter... Committee to Protect Journalists Police stand outside the offices of the Daily Monitor. (Daily Monitor)

Nairobi, May 21, 2013--Ugandan police surrounded the Kampala offices of two private newspapers for seven hours on Monday, barring access to the premises, disabling printing presses, and effectively halting publication indefinitely, according to news reports. The police said they had search warrants to find documents related to a letter written by an army official that described an assassination plot.

]]> At AU summit, Kerry should speak out for a free press tag:cpj.org,2013://1.21757 2013-05-16T21:00:33Z 2013-05-16T21:41:33Z Dear Mr. Secretary: We are writing to bring to your attention the deteriorating state of press freedom in Ethiopia, where you will attend this year's African Union Summit. A vibrant press and civil society is fundamental to hold governments accountable and to ensure long-term development and stability. As we mark the 50th anniversary of the founding of the Organization of African Unity, we ask that you include the issue of press freedom in your discussion of the challenges that Africa will face in the next half-century. Committee to Protect Journalists Ethiopian editor questioned over story on Meles' widow tag:cpj.org,2013://1.21721 2013-05-15T20:08:59Z 2013-05-16T14:08:05Z New York, May 15, 2013--Ethiopian police in Addis Ababa questioned an editor for several hours today in connection with a story published in October about the widow of the late Ethiopian leader Meles Zenawi, according to news reports.... Committee to Protect Journalists A journalist is being harassed in connection with a seven-month-old story about Azeb Mesfin, seen here with her husband, the late leader Meles Zenawi. (AP/Samson Haileyesus)

New York, May 15, 2013--Ethiopian police in Addis Ababa questioned an editor for several hours today in connection with a story published in October about the widow of the late Ethiopian leader Meles Zenawi, according to news reports.

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