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MRA, others, write to Nigerian President seeking accountability for attacks on journalists

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MRA, others, write to Nigerian President seeking accountability for attacks on journalists

Media Rights Agenda (MRA) has partnered with five other Nigerian and international media freedom organizations to write a joint letter to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, urging him to hold accountable those responsible for abuses against the media which occurred during and before his tenure, and take further action to reform Nigerian laws to ensure journalism is not criminalized.

The letter, signed by Ms Angela Quintal, Africa Director of the New York-based Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ); Ms Busola Ajibola, Deputy Director of the Centre for Journalism Innovation and Development (CJID); Mr. Churchill Otieno, President of The Africa Editors Forum (TAEF); Mr. Edetaen Ojo, Executive Director of MRA; Mr. Lanre Arogundade, Executive Director of the International Press Centre (IPC); and Mr. Musikilu Mojeed, President of the Nigerian chapter of the Vienna-based International Press Institute (IPI), was in response to a recent statement by Vice President Kashim Shettima Mustapha suggesting that no journalists have been harassed in Nigeria since the Tinubu Administration took office.

In the letter copied to the Vice President and Mr. Lateef Fagbemi (SAN), Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, the organizations said they were writing to the President to express alarm over the Vice President’s remarks, noting that “This mischaracterization conveys a grave indifference to the numerous and well-documented attacks on the press while you have been president, including violent abuses and arrests by Nigerian security forces.”

According to them, “on February 27, a State House press release quoted Vice President Shettima as saying to members of the Nigerian Press Council, ‘For the past three years, have you heard of any harassment of journalists?’ He added that your ‘tolerance threshold is so high.’”

The organizations noted that the State House press release also said that the Tinubu administration had promoted “an environment that is conducive for journalists to carry out their duties without harassment.”

However, they said, since President Tinubu assumed office as President of Nigeria in 2023, the CPJ has documented Nigerian authorities detaining journalists without warning and mistreating them in custody, while numerous journalists have been arrested and prosecuted over their reporting, including on defamation and cybercrime charges.

For instance, the organizations said, in August 2024, CPJ documented at least 56 journalists assaulted or harassed by Nigerian security forces or citizens while covering the #EndBadGovernance demonstrations and that masked security forces even fired bullets and tear gas in the direction of 18 working journalists.

Additionally, they pointed out that in 2024, IPC documented 65 cases of attacks on journalists, which varied from physical assault, harassment, threats to life, intimidation, murder, and unlawful and prolonged detentions.

The organizations also cited Media Rights Agenda’s 2025 annual report, which similarly tracked 86 incidents of attacks on press freedom across Nigeria, while noting that IPI Nigeria has identified a pattern of impunity for such incidents in the country.

They said CJID, which tracks media freedom violations, has verified at least 231 attacks on the press since the President took office, and in 2024 wrote to the President’s office urging decisive action to stop such incidents.

The organizations recounted that since 1992, CPJ has documented the killing of at least 23 journalists in Nigeria, as well as two others who are missing and presumed dead, while at least 13 of these journalists are confirmed to have been killed in connection with their work.

They cited the case of one of the journalists, Onifade Emmanuel Pelumi, who was found dead in a mortuary days after he was seen in police custody after being shot while reporting in Lagos in 2020, adding that “Over five years later, despite repeated pleadings, Pelumi’s body has yet to be returned to his family.”

The organizations said:  “We have not seen meaningful efforts to end impunity when journalists are targeted, and your government even sought to appeal a court judgment ordering government actions to improve press freedom and the investigation of attacks against the press. Media Rights Agenda filed the case. Nigeria has elections scheduled for early 2027, and we have documented how such moments of political tension often correspond with spikes in attacks on journalists. This is a pattern that should be addressed with informed government actions, but the Vice President’s recent statements demonstrate a clear failure to recognize and respond to the dangers Nigerian journalists face, including from law enforcement tasked with protecting the public.”

They described the remarks as also reminiscent of Nigerian officials’ previous false claims and mischaracterizations about press freedom conditions, insisting that since Vice President Shettima referred to the administration as “a friend of the media”, it is time to match those words with action by holding those responsible for attacks to account, returning Pelumi’s body to his family, and ensuring the periods before, during, and after the coming elections are safe for those who report the news.

The organizations therefore, called on President Tinubu to hold accountable those responsible for abuses against the media that have taken place during and before his tenure, and to take further action to reform Nigerian laws to ensure journalism is not criminalized as general elections are scheduled for early 2027, and his action to protect the press and Nigerian democracy is essential.

Please download and read the full letter here.

AFEX condemns the escalating assault on fundamental freedoms ahead of Uganda’s 2026 general elections

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AFEX condemns the escalating assault on fundamental freedoms ahead of Uganda’s 2026 general elections

As Ugandans prepare to head to the polls on January 15, 2026, the country finds itself gripped not by open democratic contestation, but by a growing climate of fear, restriction, and repression. In the days leading up to the election, state actions have systematically narrowed civic space, undermined independent oversight, and curtailed citizens’ freedom to express themselves, associate, and access information.

The African Freedom of Expression Exchange (AFEX) is deeply concerned by the pattern of coordinated measures adopted by Ugandan authorities, which collectively amount to a serious erosion of fundamental freedoms at a critical moment in the country’s democratic life.

On January 12, 2026, the National Bureau for Non-Governmental Organizations (NGO Bureau) ordered at least 10 civil society organizations, including human rights, media-freedom, and election-monitoring groups. These organizations were instructed to halt operations on vague grounds of “national security,” citing intelligence that they engaged in activities “prejudicial to the law of Uganda,” effectively removing independent voices that play a crucial role in safeguarding transparency, documenting abuses, and supporting citizens during electoral processes. The timing of these suspensions –just days before voting– has raised alarm about the intent to weaken scrutiny and silence dissent.

Almost simultaneously, the Uganda Communications Commission (UCC) imposed a nationwide internet shutdown on January 13, 2026, at around 6 p.m. local time, cutting off access to social media platforms, messaging services, and online news sources. This digital blackout has severely disrupted the flow of information, impeded independent reporting, and prevented citizens from communicating freely or sharing real-time accounts of electoral developments. In an era when the internet is central to participation, oversight, and accountability, such a shutdown amounts to collective silencing.

These developments have unfolded against a backdrop of heavy security deployment, intimidation of opposition supporters, arbitrary arrests of activists, and reports of abductions and excessive use of force. The United Nations Human Rights Office has described the pre-election environment as one marked by “widespread repression,” reinforcing concerns that Ugandans are being denied the conditions necessary for a genuinely free and fair election.

Journalists have also been placed under increasing pressure. Restrictions on live broadcasts, harassment of media workers, and the internet blackout have combined to weaken press freedom and deny the public access to timely, accurate, and independent information. The suppression of the media during an election period undermines democratic accountability.

Taken together, these actions represent clear violations of Uganda’s constitutional guarantees and its obligations under regional and international human rights instruments, including the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights. They undermine the rights to freedom of expression, association, assembly, and access to information. These rights are not optional during elections, but essential to their legitimacy.

AFEX condemns these measures and calls on the government of Uganda to immediately restore full internet access, lift restrictions on civil society organisations, and ensure that journalists, activists, opposition actors, and ordinary citizens can exercise their rights without fear of retaliation. Security forces must act with restraint and professionalism, respecting the rule of law and the rights of all individuals.

AFEX further urges the African Union, the East African Community, and international partners to remain vigilant, to speak out against abuses, and to support efforts that promote transparency, accountability, and respect for human rights throughout the electoral process.

Democracy cannot thrive in darkness. When citizens are silenced, observers sidelined, and information restricted, elections lose their meaning. The legitimacy of Uganda’s 2026 elections will ultimately be judged not only by the casting of ballots, but by whether fundamental freedoms were respected before, during, and after polling day.

AFEX stands in solidarity with the people of Uganda and reaffirms that freedom of expression and civic participation are not threats to democracy but its foundation.

 



AFEX-IFEX Statement-SOUTH SUDAN: AFEX and IFEX express solidarity against the attacks on Association for Media Development in South Sudan

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AFEX-IFEX Statement-SOUTH SUDAN: AFEX and IFEX express solidarity against the attacks on Association for Media Development in South Sudan

4 November 2025

The African Freedom of Expression Exchange (AFEX) and IFEX  stand in solidarity with their member, the Association for Media Development in South Sudan (AMDISS), against the online attacks discrediting their work. AFEX is comprised of 14 member-organisations across the West, East, Central and Southern Africa regions and IFEX is a global network that includes these groups and another 100 member-organisations based around the globe dedicated to promoting and defending the right to freedom of expression and information.

For over 20 years, AMDISS has supported media development while promoting freedom of expression and information for an independent and democratic South Sudan. They have supported local journalists and media, particularly women journalists and others from remote areas, to participate in well-structured trainings, workshops, and seminars on safe, accurate, high-quality, effective reporting. They have engaged with governments to improve the safety of journalists, protect media freedom, support information integrity, and promote civic space. They have also brought together media, government, and civil society to discuss strategies and solutions for defending press freedom.

AMDISS Director Ayaa Irene is a journalist, activist, AFEX Steering Committee member, and IFEX Council member committed to promoting freedom of expression, including improving media standards and access to information in South Sudan’s national laws and advocating for gender equality of women journalists. She recently won an award for her influential work in advancing media development, freedom of expression, the rights of journalists and empowerment of women and girls in South Sudan.

We express concern that these attacks, including those targeting AMDISS Director Ayaa Irene, reflect a broader pattern that normalises the online targeting of journalists, activists and civil society and perpetuates the culture of impunity for violence against them.

The global creep of authoritarianism, increase in disinformation, and escalating online harassment and attacks, particularly gender-based digital violence, present ever-evolving threats to civic space and the work of journalists and media. Media-supporting organisations like AMDISS are vital advocates for the press by holding governments accountable to their commitments to freedom of expression, as well as supporting local journalists and media to learn and adapt to these challenging circumstances. In turn, it is critical governments ensure a free and open civic space for the media to exercise their rights to freedom of expression while upholding information integrity, which contributes to a healthy, thriving democracy.

Resolution of the Eleventh General Meeting of the African Freedom of Expression Exchange (AFEX)

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Resolution of the Eleventh General Meeting of the African Freedom of Expression Exchange (AFEX)

Adopted in Windhoek, Namibia – September 24, 2025

The Eleventh General Meeting of the African Freedom of Expression Exchange (AFEX), a continental network of freedom of expression and media development organisations and members of the global press freedom advocacy network IFEX, was convened at the Hilton Garden Inn, Windhoek, Namibia, on Wednesday, September 24, 2025.

Organized by the Media Foundation for West Africa (MFWA), host of the AFEX Secretariat, and chaired by Paul-Joel Kamtchang, Executive Director of ADISI-Cameroon and Chairperson of the AFEX Steering Committee, the meeting brought together delegates from all 14 member organisations across West, East, Central, and Southern Africa. Also present were representatives from IFEX, including Executive Director Rachael Kay, Advocacy Coordinator Farah Bogani, and Africa Regional Editor Reyhana Masters.

The meeting served as a strategic platform to evaluate the state of media freedom, access to information, digital rights, and civic space across Africa. Delegates presented country reports detailing trends, progress, and setbacks, followed by deliberations on regional collaboration, advocacy, and accountability mechanisms to protect press freedom and democratic participation.

Preamble

Recalling the collective commitment of AFEX to defend freedom of expression and press freedom in Africa, in accordance with Article 9 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights and the 2019 African Declaration of Principles on Freedom of Expression and Access to Information;

Recognizing that vibrant, independent media and open civic spaces are central to good governance, transparency, and the realization of human rights;

Concerned by the continuing repression, harassment, and criminalization of journalists and media institutions across Africa, and the widespread misuse of cybercrime, defamation, and national security laws to silence dissent;

Acknowledging the resilience and innovation demonstrated by journalists and civil society organizations in advancing access to information, countering disinformation, and promoting accountability despite hostile environments;

The Eleventh General Meeting of AFEX hereby resolves as follows:

  1. On Press Freedom and Safety of Journalists

Strongly condemns all attacks, arbitrary arrests, and acts of intimidation against journalists and media houses across Africa, as documented in reports from The Gambia, Liberia, South Sudan, Cameroon, and Uganda, and further denounces the ongoing persecution of journalists in conflict-affected regions of the Democratic Republic of Congo, where media workers have been detained for publishing politically sensitive content and where press coverage is being actively suppressed in both eastern and western parts of the country.

  • Notes with grave concern the increasing use of violence, surveillance, and censorship, particularly the torture of journalists in South Sudan, the closure of media houses in Senegal, Benin, and Togo, and the harassment of reporters in Uganda and Nigeria.
  • Demands accountability for crimes against journalists, emphasizing that impunity remains one of the greatest threats to press freedom.
  • Calls for the establishment of national mechanisms for the safety of journalists, in collaboration with the African Union, the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights (ACHPR), and national media councils.
  • Commends the work of Journaliste en Danger (JED) and other civil society actors in the DRC who have successfully lobbied for the release of arbitrarily detained journalists, despite a generally hostile media environment.
  • Calls attention to the structural challenges faced by journalists in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and South Sudan, including poor remuneration, unsafe working conditions, and lack of institutional support, all of which significantly undermine journalistic independence, professional integrity, and personal safety.
  • Urges governments to guarantee the protection of women journalists, who face gender-based violence, online harassment, and intimidation, especially at the community media level.
  1. On Legal and Policy Frameworks
  • Notes progress made in some countries, including The Gambia’s repeal of criminal defamation and sedition laws, and the adoption of Access to Information (ATI) laws in Senegal, Botswana, and Somalia.
  • Commends the Gambia Press Union (GPU), CEMESP (Liberia), and AFIC (Africa) for leading campaigns that have resulted in legal and institutional reforms.
  • Welcomes the legal framework provided by the Muyaya Law in the DRC, which, while inconsistently implemented, has created new avenues for civic engagement and public advocacy on freedom of expression and media rights.
  • Expresses concern about regressive legislative trends, such as Uganda’s Computer Misuse Act, Nigeria’s Cybercrimes Act, and South Sudan’s National Security Act, which are being used to suppress dissent and restrict online expression.
  • Calls on governments to reform restrictive laws, including defamation statutes and media licensing regimes, to align with international human rights standards.
  • Encourages the harmonization of media and information laws across regions, and calls on the ECOWAS Court of Justiceand national parliaments to strengthen oversight and enforcement of press freedom obligations.
  1. On Access to Information and Transparency
  • Reaffirms that the right to access information is a cornerstone of democratic accountability and citizen participation.
  • Welcomes the operationalization of Information Commissions in The Gambia and Liberia, but notes implementation gaps, such as the lack of proactive disclosure and delayed responses to information requests.
  • Encourages governments to allocate dedicated budget lines for ATI implementation, as proposed in Uganda, and to strengthen monitoring mechanisms.
  • Urges media and civil society organisations to intensify public education campaigns that empower citizens to make effective use of ATI laws.
  1. On Civic Space and Protest Rights
  • Expresses alarm over the shrinking civic space and the increasing militarisation of protest policing across Africa, particularly in The Gambia, Uganda, Nigeria, South Africa, Cameroon, where peaceful demonstrators face arrest, intimidation, or violent dispersal, and journalists covering protests are subjected to threats, physical violence, and unlawful detention.
  • Calls on governments to respect the constitutional right to peaceful protest, and to ensure that law enforcement agencies act with restraint and professionalism.
  • Urges the African Union and subregional blocs such as ECOWAS and SADC to adopt clear guidelines for the protection of civic space and protest rights.
  • Calls on DRC authorities to ensure that journalists and civil society actors can participate meaningfully in processes like the Doha peace process, which currently excludes media voices.
  1. On Digital Rights and Online Freedom
  • Raises deep concern over the weaponization of digital laws, online surveillance, and internet shutdowns during elections and protests across Africa.
  • Encourages support for the African Commission’s efforts to develop and adopt a Resolution on Access to Data and finalize the Guidelines on Digital Platform Regulation.Calls on states to ensure data protection, online privacy, and freedom of digital expression, especially for journalists, whistleblowers, and human rights defenders.
  • Encourages rights organisations to strengthen their engagement in digital rights coalitions, sharing strategies for cyber-safety and online resilience.
  1. On Gender Equality and Inclusion in Media
  • Encourages the adoption of gender-sensitive journalist safety mechanisms and equitable representation of women in media leadership.
  • Highlights the disproportionate risks faced by women journalists in South Africa and rural regions across the continent and calls for urgent action to address online abuse, sexual harassment, and threats of violence.
  • Calls on donors, development partners, and governments to fund programs addressing gender-based harassment, pay inequality, and online abuse in the media sector.
  1. On Media Sustainability and Economic Pressures
  • Notes with concern the economic fragility of independent and community media, particularly in Liberia, Nigeria, DRC, and The Gambia, where high taxes, advertising bias, and poor remuneration undermine press independence.
  • Calls on governments to create fair and transparent media financing frameworks, and on donors to support sustainability programmes for investigative and community journalism.
  • Encourages the development of collective bargaining mechanisms and fair labour standards for journalists to strengthen professionalism and welfare.
  1. On Regional Solidarity, Collaboration, and Accountability
  • Encourages increased peer learning, such as study visits, cross-border campaigns, and joint monitoring initiatives on journalist safety across the continent.
  • Supports strategic litigation against violations of freedom of expression and access to information, and calls on media rightsorganisations to document and share cases for regional advocacy and accountability.

Conclusion

AFEX reaffirms its unwavering commitment to protecting freedom of expression, promoting media independence, advancing access to information, and expanding civic space across Africa.

AFEX calls upon African governments to respect and uphold these fundamental rights as the foundation of democratic governance, accountability, and social justice.

Adopted this 24th day of September 2025, in Windhoek, Namibia.

AFEX condemns detention of two Ethiopian Journalists

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AFEX condemns detention of two Ethiopian Journalists

The African Freedom of Expression Exchange (AFEX) is alarmed by the detention of two journalists working with Sheger FM 102 in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, following their coverage of grievances raised by health professionals.

On September 3, 2025, Federal Police arrested and detained Mintamir Tsegaye, a reporter, and Tigist Zerihun, an editor, shortly after the station aired a program highlighting demands by health workers for better salaries and benefits. A third staff member, Eshete Assefa, Head of News and Programs, was also detained but released the same day after providing a statement.

The journalists remain in custody at the Federal Police Crime Investigation Office in the Mexico area of Addis Ababa. Their first scheduled court appearance was postponed, with proceedings on September 5, 2025.

This detention adds to a disturbing trend of press freedom violations in Ethiopia. In recent weeks, other journalists, including Yonas Amare of The Reporter and Abdulselam Mohammed of Ahadu Radio, were arbitrarily detained and held for over ten days. Ethiopia ranks 145th out of 180 countries in the 2025 World Press Freedom Index, compiled by Reporters Without Borders, reflecting an increasingly hostile environment for journalists.

The Ethiopian Media Professionals Association (EMPA) condemned the detentions as “a dangerous practice” that undermines media independence.

AFEX strongly condemns the detention of the Sheger FM journalists and calls on the Ethiopian authorities to immediately and unconditionally release them. Journalism is not a crime, and such actions only worsen Ethiopia’s already troubling press freedom record.

AFEX Condemns the Detention of Member

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AFEX Condemns the Detention of Member

The African Freedom of Expression Exchange (AFEX), strongly condemns the arbitrary detention of Congolese journalist Tuver Tuverekwevyo Wundi.

Wundi, who serves as the provincial director of the state broadcaster RTNC and a correspondent for AFEX member, Journaliste en Danger (JED), has been detained by the National Intelligence Agency in Kinshasa since August 27, 2025. He was last seen leaving the JED office for lunch, but never returned. Since then, his phones have gone unanswered, and he has been denied access to his family, colleagues, and lawyers. While a source at the National Intelligence Agency has suggested that Wundi is being “debriefed,” no official explanation or charges have been made public.

This is not the first time Wundi has been targeted. Earlier this year, he was detained for more than a week by the M23 rebel movement in Goma. His current arrest by state intelligence services once again exposes the fragile and dangerous conditions under which journalists in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) are forced to work. Such actions contribute to a worrying pattern of intimidation and harassment of the media, which undermines press freedom and denies citizens their right to information.

AFEX therefore calls on the Congolese authorities to:

  1. Immediately and unconditionally release Tuver Wundi, or provide a clear and lawful justification for his detention.
  2. Ensure the safety and protection of all journalists and media workers in the DRC, particularly those operating in conflict zones.
  3. End the practice of arbitrary arrests and intimidation of media practitioners, which erodes democratic accountability and weakens public trust.

We urge the Congolese government to respect its obligations under the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, both of which guarantee freedom of expression and the right to liberty and security of the person.

AFEX stands in solidarity with JED one of its member organisations together with Wundi’s colleagues at RTNC and the wider Congolese media community. We reaffirm our commitment to defending press freedom and protecting the safety of journalists across Africa.

MRA calls on Nigerian government to implement ECOWAS Court judgment on blasphemy laws

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MRA calls on Nigerian government to implement ECOWAS Court judgment on blasphemy laws

Lagos, Wednesday, July 16, 2025: Media Rights Agenda (MRA) has called on the Federal Government to take urgent measures to implement and give full effect to the April 9, 2025 judgment of the ECOWAS Court of Justice, which declared aspects of Kano State’s blasphemy laws a violation of Nigeria’s obligations under the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights (ACHPR) and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR).

Urging the Government to promptly comply with the Court’s directive to bring all such laws in Nigeria into conformity with its international human rights obligations, MRA stressed that failure to abide by the judgment would not only undermine the rule of law and weaken the regional human rights system but also further tarnish Nigeria’s reputation as a democracy committed to the fundamental rights of its citizens.

In a unanimous judgment by three judges in a suit filed by a human rights organization, Expression Now Human Rights Initiative, the ECOWAS Court held on April 9 that the blasphemy provisions in the Kano State Penal Code, its Sharia Penal Code Law of 2000, and similar provisions in other laws violate key human rights guarantees, particularly the right to freedom of expression, guaranteed by the African Charter and the ICCPR.

The Court further ruled that Nigeria, as a State Party to the African Charter and the ICCPR, is bound to ensure that its domestic laws, including state-level legislation, comply with these international instruments. It accordingly ordered the Federal Government to ensure the repeal or amendment of blasphemy provisions in the Kano State Penal Code, its Sharia Penal Code Law of 2000, and similar provisions in other laws as they are incompatible with Nigeria’s obligations to guarantee freedom of expression under the regional and international instruments.

In a statement issued in Lagos, Mr. Monday Arunsi, Acting Head of MRA’s Legal Department, said the organization agreed fully with the Court’s reasoning when it stated that “capital punishment is typically reserved for serious crimes like murder, terrorism or genocide where there is a clear victim who has suffered grave harm, not speech or disrespect. The Court is of the opinion that there are less restrictive ways in which the State could limit the freedom of expression for the purpose of ensuring respect for the religious beliefs of others and the preservation of public peace.”

According to Mr. Arunsi, “Nigeria cannot pick and choose which of its international obligations to respect. The judgment of the ECOWAS Court is binding, and the Federal Government has a legal and moral duty to comply with it and ensure that the provisions of all federal and state laws are consistent with the regional and international instruments to which it is a State Party and, in particular, that the laws protect the rights and freedoms enshrined in the African Charter and the ICCPR, which Nigeria has voluntarily ratified. Compliance is, therefore, not optional.”

He noted that the Court’s decision reinforces longstanding concerns by human rights advocates in Nigeria and internationally that certain provisions of the Sharia Penal Code of Kano State and similar laws in many other States, particularly those criminalising blasphemy and prescribing harsh punishments such as the death penalty, are inconsistent with international human rights standards.

Mr. Arunsi called on the Federal Government to “demonstrate leadership in the region by taking immediate steps to engage with the Government of Kano State and other states with similar laws to ensure a comprehensive review and reform of such legislation, in line with Nigeria’s international obligations and in compliance with the orders of the Court.”

He stressed that such reforms should include the amendment or repeal of all provisions that violate the right to freedom of expression, while preserving freedom of thought, conscience, and religion, adding that “Respect for the rule of law and for the decisions of competent international courts is fundamental to the protection of human rights, the promotion of justice, and the preservation of Nigeria’s standing in the international community.”

Mr. Arunsi also urged the National Assembly, the National Human Rights Commission, and other relevant institutions to play their part in ensuring that the Nigeria’s legal framework fully aligns with its commitments under regional and international human rights treaties.

For more information, please contact:

Idowu Adewale (Mr.)
Communications Officer,
Media Rights Agenda
E-mail: [email protected]

MFWA condemns physical attacks against journalists covering parliamentary election

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MFWA condemns physical attacks against journalists covering parliamentary election

The Media Foundation for West Africa (MFWA) strongly condemns physical attacks against journalists reporting on the parliamentary election re-run taking place at Ablekuma North, a constituency in the Greater Accra Region of Ghana today, July 11, 2025.

Three journalists, Kwabena Agyekum Banahene of the EIB Network; Salomey Martey of the Multimedia Group; and Vida Wiafe of Amansan TV (ATV) were assaulted while they were reporting from polling stations in the constituency.

In the first incident, Kwabena Agyekum Banahene, was slapped by a police officer while at the Church of Pentecost, North Odorkor 4 Polling Station in the Tswuim Electoral Area. The attack, captured in a viral video, shows the officer manhandling the journalist who was visibly identifiable as a member of the press.

Banahene confirmed the incident to the MFWA in a telephone interview after lodging a complaint and obtaining a medical report at the Odorkor Police Station. He was admitted at the Cocoa Clinic at Kaneshie in Accra for treatment. He told the MFWA that he was traumatised and was feeling severe pains in his, “right eye and bruises on my face.”

We commend the Ghana Police Service, who in a statement has announced that the officer concerned has been recalled and will be facing internal disciplinary procedures.

“The officer concerned has been withdrawn from the ongoing election duty at Ablekuma North; and in line with internal disciplinary procedures, he has been interdicted and referred to the Police Professional Standards Bureau (PPSB) for investigation,” the police statement read.

In another incident, a journalist from Multimedia Group was also manhandled by a partially masked manwhose identity could not be ascertained.

In the third incident, a journalist with ATV, Vida Wiafe, was attacked with pepper spray while covering the elections at the Methodist Church at the St. Peter’s Society polling station.

Speaking to the MFWA, she said the media were trying to get an interview but were being blocked by police. “Then I suddenly heard what sounded like shots. I don’t think they were gunshots, but honestly, I wasn’t sure,” she said. “I turned my head to see where the sound was coming from, and that’s when I was pepper sprayed. I went unconscious the moment I was pepper sprayed.”

These attacks are a clear affront to press freedom and highly unbefitting of a country that is touted as a beacon of democracy in the West Africa region.

It is particularly worrying that such incidents are happening in the Ablekuma area again, given that Pius Kwanin Asiedu of the online news portal newswatchgh.com was shot in the left leg while covering the collation of election results at the Ablekuma Central collation centre during the 2020 general elections.

Government authorities, both local and national, need to take appropriate steps to ensure that the constituency does not become a hotspot for election-related violence and attacks against journalists.

The state security agencies and the Electoral Commission of Ghana (EC) must also deploy circumspection and tact in the management of elections in the said area to avert future recurrence of violence against journalists, which not only dents the democratic credentials of the country, but also violates the country’s press freedom as guaranteed in the 1992 Constitution.

As the elections are ongoing, the MFWA calls on both state and non-state actors involved in the Ablekuma North parliamentary election rerun to exercise restraint, uphold the rule of law, and respect the rights of all stakeholders, especially the media, who are fundamentally carrying out their duties to inform Ghanaians and the rest of the world about the entire process.

The MFWA urges the EC and state security agencies managing the elections to accord journalists the necessary courtesies to facilitate and ensure a comprehensive coverage of the election.

The MFWA also calls on the Police Administration to ensure that the findings of the PPSB are made public and that the officer is held accountable if found culpable. This will serve as a deterrent to other state security agents, who our monitoring often cites as the main perpetrators of press freedom and freedom of expression violations in Ghana.

We stand in solidarity with the victims and their media outlets and call on all stakeholders to unite in protecting journalists and preserving the sanctity of press freedom in Ghana by calling out perpetrators of freedom of expression and press freedom violations

AFEX Condemns blatant violations of fundamental freedoms during protests in Kenya

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AFEX Condemns blatant violations of fundamental freedoms during protests in Kenya

The African Freedom of Expression Exchange (AFEX), a network committed to protecting and advancing the rights of all persons to speak freely, access information, and participate in governance, strongly condemns the recent violations of fundamental freedoms during the protests held in Kenya on June 25, 2025.

AFEX is gravely alarmed by reported cases of excessive force used against protesters, which has resulted in over 16 confirmed deaths and over 400 injured protesters. It is highly unfortunate that a peaceful protest that was intended to commemorate and demand justice for lives lost exactly a year earlier should result in the recurrence of dozens of casualties.

AFEX also denounces the directive by the Communications Authority of Kenya (CAK) barring the live coverage of the June 25, 2025 protests by the media in the country. In particular, we condemn the unlawful media blackouts enforced against Citizen TV, NTV, KTN and K24. The directive was a blatant censorship move that infringes on the public’s right to access timely and accurate information, and also to express their concerns using such platforms.

These actions are not only indefensible, but also unlawful under both Kenyan and international law. The Constitution of Kenya (2010) clearly guarantees in Article 33, the right to freedom of expression; in Article 34, the freedom and independence of electronic, print, and all other types of media; and in Article 37, the right of every person to assemble, demonstrate, picket, and present petitions to public authorities peacefully and unarmed.

Kenya is also a State Party to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), Articles 19 and 21 of which protect the rights to freedom of expression and peaceful assembly. The current violations are in direct contradiction to these binding international obligations.

Freedom of expression, access to information, and the right to peaceful assembly are indispensable pillars of democratic societies. Attempts to suppress these rights do not only silence dissent, but also erode public trust in state institutions and undermine the rule of law.

It is, thus, untenable, that just a day (June 26) after the commemorative protest when people were still morning the dead and attending to the over 400 injured people resulting from poor crowd management skills of the Kenyan Police and other security agencies, the Kenyan Cabinet Secretary for Interior, Kipchumba Murkomen, would hold a press conference only to defend the CAK’s decision to switch off free-to-air signals of the media; and to attack international reporters.

While condemning the Cabinet Secretary for Interior for his statements during the presser of June 26, AFEX highly commends the ruling of the High Court in Milimani, presided over by Justice Chacha Mwita, for issuing the conservatory order that suspended the directive from the CAK barring media outlets from broadcasting live footage of the commerative demonstrations of June 25, 2025.

“A conservatory order is HEREBY ISSUED suspending, with immediate effect, the DIRECTIVE Ref No. CA/CE/BC/TV90A, or any other directive issued by the Communications Authority of Kenya to all television and radio stations directing them to stop live coverage of the demonstrations of 25th June 2025, or any other demonstrations, until the hearing and determination of the application and petition,” the Court order read.

AFEX also commends Justice Chacha Mwita for not only suspending the directive, but also for ordering for the immediate restoration of any broadcasting signals that might have been switched off following the implementation of the CAK’s directive.

AFEX also applauds the Kenya Editors’ Guild and all media stakeholders and civil society organisations for standing with the protesters and the media in Kenya to pushback the CAK’s directive.

We stand in solidarity with all Kenyans exercising their democratic rights, and we urge the Kenyan authorities to safeguard these freedoms rather than suppress them. Freedom of expression is not a privilege, it is a right. AFEX, therefore, calls on the Government of Kenya to:

  1. Cease the repression of peaceful protests and guarantee the protection of all demonstrators and journalists;
  2. Ensure an independent, impartial, and transparent investigation into all acts of violence, particularly against protesters and journalists, and hold the perpetrators accountable;
  3. Uphold and enforce constitutional and international obligations protecting freedom of expression, press freedom, and the right to peaceful assembly.
  4. Provide crowd control skills training sessions for the Kenyan Police Force. Indeed, the fallouts of the June 2024 and June 2025 protests is a clear demonstration of the Kenyan Police Forces’ dearth of skill in crowd management; as well as their limited appreciation of the role of expression, including protests, in democratic dispensations.
  5. Desist from deploying the military to manage peaceful protests as their interventions have often been marked by abuses

AFEX condemns the unjust and excessive restriction of access to X in Tanzania

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AFEX condemns the unjust and excessive restriction of access to X in Tanzania

From May 20 to May 21, 2025, Tanzanians faced a wave of digital restrictions impacting their X accounts. This shutdown occurred without any official announcement from the government or telecommunications companies in Tanzania.

The X platform was disabled without proper procedure, a public explanation, or legal justification. The restrictions followed a security breach, where hackers took over the official X account of the Tanzanian Police Force and posted explicit content, along with false claims regarding the death of President Samia Suluhu Hassan on May 20, 2025.

Other X accounts impacted included those of the Tanzanian Police Force, the Tanzania Revenue Authority, Airtel Tanzania, and the YouTube channels of the ruling party Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM) and the University of Dar es Salaam, as reported by The Internet Government Tanzania Working Group (IGTWG).

In response to the incident, President Samia Suluhu Hassan stated on May 19 that she would not permit foreign activists to meddle in Tanzania’s internal matters or incite unrest.

The government believes this situation arose amid increasing political tension, following the arrest and deportation of several East African activists and lawyers who sought to observe opposition leader Tundu Lissu’s treason trial in Tanzania.

This led to the deportation of notable Kenyan figures, including former Justice Minister Martha Kaura, who had come to attend a court hearing for Lissu, who is currently facing treason charges.

The Internet Government Tanzania Working Group emphasized in its statement that this shutdown, executed without public notice, infringes on essential digital rights and freedoms. They further reminded the public that access to information is a fundamental human right recognized in international and regional legal obligations.

AFEX calls on the government of Tanzania to restore complete access to citizens’ X accounts and to enhance cybersecurity measures nationwide.

Additionally, AFEX urges the government and telecommunications companies to establish clear guidelines that ensure any future restrictions on internet services comply with constitutional due process and international norms and standards. These restrictions should be limited in scope and publicly justified.

Zambian government secretly weaponizes cybercrime law with intrusive add-ons

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Zambian government secretly weaponizes cybercrime law with intrusive add-ons

On April 8, 2025, Zambia’s President Hakainde Hichilema signed into law the Cyber Crimes Act 2025,updating the 2021 version with rather very intrusive provisions.

The new law has also removed the Zambia Cyber Security Agency from an independent agency of state, and localized it in the Office of the President.

The law allows for the interception and surveillance of all electronic communications, including calls, emails, messages and streamed content. Under the law a law enforcement officer with a warrant can enter any premises to search and seize a computer or computer system containing material that is either evidence necessary to prove an offence or acquired by a person as a result of an offence.

The law also allows the government to extradite Zambians who are deemed to have committed any offence under the law, with hefty fines or jail terms ranging from five (5) to fifteen (15) years, depending on the crime committed.

The new law requires Information and Communication Technology (ICT) companies to proactively intercept all electronic communications for government, effectively turning Zambia into a Police state with telcos as the informants.

According to sources, the Act was signed into law with very little publicity.  Many Zambians thus, only got to know about it after the US issued an advisory to its citizens traveling, or considering traveling to Zambia.

Parts of that advisory read, “As this new law introduces an intrusive surveillance ecosystem significantly different from privacy protection provisions that prevail in many countries, the embassy of the United States encourages Americans living in Zambia or considering visiting the country to carefully assess the implications of this law and adjust accordingly.”

The Law Association of Zambia (LAZ)  has raised concerns that numerous provisions in the Act, “infringe upon the rights and freedoms of citizens, hinder a free press and have the potential to undermine the cherished democracy in our country”.

AFEX equally believe the Cyber Crimes Act 2025 is unwholesome and is replete with provisions that infringe on human rights.  In addition, the Act is dangerous to free expression, as well as independent journalism, which are among the most effective ways to hold the government and duty bearers to account. We condemn the secrecy and obscurantism that characterized its passage and urge the government to revoke the law for wider consultations before passage.

AFEX urges the Kenyan government to help bring justice to assaulted journalists in Nakuru

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AFEX urges the Kenyan government to help bring justice to assaulted journalists in Nakuru

Over a week has passed since six journalists were teargassed and assaulted by police in Nakuru, Kenya, while covering the arrest of former Kakamega senator Cleophas Malala on April 8. Despite public outcry and assurances of an investigation, no officers have been held accountable.

The incident occurred at Kirobon Girls’ High School, where more than 15 journalists were present for live broadcasts. A plain-clothed officer instructed them to leave, threatened them, and later returned with riot police, resulting in chaos. Tear gas was directed at the journalists while they tried to flee, leading to injuries among several of them.

National Police Service spokesperson Nyaga Muchiri has indicated that action would be taken against those involved. However, many journalists hesitated to file statements with the Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA) due to previous frustrations.

This incident highlights ongoing concerns about police impunity and the safety of journalists in Kenya, particularly in politically sensitive situations, despite constitutional protections for press freedom.

The African Freedom of Expression (AFEX) is concerned about the safety of Journalists, especially when no action has been taken against the perpetrators. AFEX urges the State authorities to ensure that justice is served in this matter.

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