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AFEX Calls on Uganda Authorities to Ensure Safety of Journalists, Keep the Internet On during Elections

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AFEX Calls on Uganda Authorities to Ensure Safety of Journalists, Keep the Internet On during Elections

Ugandans go to the polls to elect a President on January 14, 2021, in a tensed context which has seen several journalists assaulted, arrested, and detained for simply doing their work of informing the public and providing a platform for divergent views.

President Yoweri Museveni, 76, has been in power since 1986 and is one of Africa’s longest-serving heads of state. Museveni who ruled Uganda for ten years as a military leader, is running for a sixth term since he secured his first mandate as a civilian president in 1996.

Museveni is competing against 10 other candidates, including MP for Kyadondo East, Robert Kyagulanyi Ssentamu alias Bobi Wine, the presidential candidate of the National Unity Platform (NUP). Bobi Wine has been brutalised and arrested by security forces on several occasions.

Another opposition presidential candidate, Patrick Oboi Amuriat of Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) was also brutalised by the security forces at his party’s headquarters in the south of Kampala on November 3, 2020.

The African Freedom of Expression Exchange (AFEX), is deeply concerned about the continued abuse of human rights in the country and urges the Ugandan authorities to protect the safety of journalists and uphold press freedom during and after the polls.

Assault on Journalists

The government has in recent years demonstrated gross intolerance for independent media reportage. State security forces have descended heavily on journalists who are merely doing their work. During the last two months for example, the police has used brute and excessive force against several journalists reporting on activities and campaigns of opposition politicians.

On November 18, 2020, Ashirat Kasirye, a journalist working with Ghetto TV, was nearly killed after being pepper-sprayed and left unconscious by police officers during the arrest of prominent opposition figure, Robert Kyagulanyi Ssentamu, popularly known as Bobi Wine.

On December 6, David Lubowa, a photojournalist with Daily Monitor was assaulted by the police in Jinja district. Lubowa was covering the campaign trail of Bobi Wine while the police attacked him with a teargas canister.

Five days later, on December 11, the police attacked six other journalists who were also covering the campaign procession of Bobi Wine. A standoff ensued between the security forces and the sympathizers of the presidential candidate as the security agents attempted to prevent them from holding their rally in the Alebtong District. In the ensuing scuffles, Moses Waisswa of Busoga One FM, Batte Ssesanga of BBS Terefayina, John Cliff Wamala of NTV, and David Tamale of Bukede TV were mercilessly beaten up by security forces.

Two other journalists, Jonathan Tusingwire and Richard Kalema of Ghetto media, were also manhandled. The journalists sustained serious injuries and were rushed to the hospital.

On December 27, the police fired teargas canisters at journalists, hitting and injuring at least three of them in the Masaka district. Kasirye Saif-Illah Ashraf, a journalist with Ghetto Media, was hit in the head. Ali Mivule, a reporter with the private media NTV Uganda, was hit in his thigh and sustained severe pain and swelling. Also, Daniel Lutaaya, a journalist with NBS TV was brutally assaulted by the police.

In Kalangala, Central Uganda, the police on December 30, arrested and detained Derrick Wandera and Culton Scovia Nakamaya, two journalists, working respectively for the newspaper Daily Monitor and BBS Terefayina TV. The two journalists were released few hours later but were interrogated by the security agents about their social media publications. The secutity agents accused them of inciting to violence by covering live Bobi Wine arrest and profiling negatively the police.

On January 1, 2021, in the northern Nebbi District, a police officer damaged the camera of Dedan Kimathi, a journalist working with the news online ChimpsReport. After damaging the camera, the security agents forced him to delete the picture he has been taking.

Abusing journalists for simply doing their work is unacceptable. We therefore call on the government of Uganda to call the errant security officers to order and take further steps to ensure the protection and safety of journalists at all times. Journalists play a crucial role in elections. This include shedding light on the various stages of the electoral process, thus promoting transparency, fair play and accountability on the part of the election stakeholders and the various actors. This is a fundamental requirement for credible elections and consolidation of democracy.

Internet Shutdowns

The government of Uganda has a history of shutting down the internet during elections. In two instances, on February 18 and May 2016, the Ugandan government shut down the internet and restricted access to social media platforms. The first internet blackout took place on the eve of the presidential election in 2016 and lasted for four days. Two months later, the second social media blackout targeting Facebook, WhatsApp, and Twitter, and mobile money transfers took effect.

Both shutdowns in 2016, were ordered by the Ugandan government  were ordered by Uganda’s security agencies and the Uganda Communications Commission (UCC), which regulates the telecommunications sector, online publications, broadcasting (both radio and television), film industry, postal and courier services.

Shutting down the internet during elections has proved futile. Shutting down the internet and social media before, during, or after the election often end up stoking up socio-political tensions and disaffection. It denies people their right to information and is detrimental to constructive public discourse. It is even more dangerous in a pandemic such as COVID-19.

In view of the above, AFEX joined other 55 organisations across the globe to urge the Ugandan authorities to keep the internet on before, during, and after the election. Particularly the government of Uganda should:

  • Ensure that the internet, including social media and other digital communication platforms, remains open, accessible, and secure across Uganda throughout the election;
  • Ensure that mobile money, banking, and other financial avenues for transactions remain accessible and secure;
  • Order internet service providers to provide everyone with high-quality, secure, and unrestricted internet access; and
  • Order internet service providers to inform internet users of any potential disruptions and to take all reasonable steps to fix any identified disruptions likely to impact the quality of service they receive.

Togo: Director of Publication Arrested

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The High Authority for Audiovisual and Communication (HAAC), the institution in charge of media regulation in Togo, has requested the courts to withdraw the operating license of the weekly, L’Independent Express, whose director of publications was arrested over an article the regulator judges to be defamatory of members of government.

The request made on January 4, 2021, followed an article entitled “End of year scoop: Women Ministers Arrested for Theft of Golden Spoons”, published in the edition 545 of December 29, 2020 of the newspaper which reported that some women ministers had stolen golden spoons during an official reception.

In the night of December 30, 2020, the Central Research and Criminal Investigations Service (SCRIC) of the gendarmerie arrested director of publication of the newspaper, Carlos Komlanvi Kétohou, in front of his family. The journalist says the security agents questioned him about the article and his sources. They also seized his phone and coerced him to reveal the passwords to his social media and email accounts.

Released on January 2, Ketouhou was summoned the same day and interrogated by the HAAC in the presence of Isidore Sassou Akollor, the President of the Patronat de la Presse Togolaise (PPT), an association of media owners.

“This article constitutes a serious violation of the rules of professional conduct and ethics of the journalist profession,” the HAAC said in a statement released on January 4. “During the hearing, the Director of publication of the weekly L’Indépendant Express could not provide any proof of the assertions contained in this article, in particular the date and the precise place of the incidents mentioned.”

The HAAC revealed in the press release that it had requested the courts to withdraw the operating license of the newspaper in line with paragraph 2 of article 63 of the Press and Communication Code in Togo, relative to the deliberate refusal to respect professionalism and ethics.

The decision of the HAAC has been greeted with shock by the media fraternity and civil society, with the Patronat de la Presse Togolaise (PPT) rejecting the move as “too extreme.”

The Togolese Dany Ayidah, who is Resident Director of the National Democratic Institute (NDI) in the Democratic Republic of Congo and member of the Togo-based group, Commitment for a Peaceful Future, observed that “the Togolese media is also likely to disappear, or have all its prerogatives withdrawn. There will always be self-censorship. People will be afraid to publish disturbing articles, people will not be able to dig into disturbing cases, and ultimately, since judges tend to protect the strongest, it is the rule of law that will suffer.”

Meanwhile, Ketohou is summoned to appear before the presiding judge of a Magistrate’s Court in Lome at 9:00 am on January 11, in connection with the HAAC’s suit against the newspaper.

The Media Foundation for West Africa is concerned about the arrest and detention of Ketohou for an alleged press offense which, under Togolese law, is liable to civil and not criminal proceedings. We would have expected the HAAC to mediate between the newspaper and whoever claims to have been defamed by the publication under reference. Having failed to do so, but rather chosen to constitute itself into the complainant, the HAAC is abandoning its responsibility of using mediation to protect the media against legal suits.

We are calling on the HAAC to redraw the summon. We also call on the authority in Togo to allow Carlos Ketohou and L’Independent Express to operate without any harassment.

South African Police Shoot Journalist Reporting on Protests

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South African Police Shoot Journalist Reporting on Protests

South African journalist Thobile Mlangeni sustained injuries on 26 November 2020 when police allegedly fired rubber bullets indiscriminately in Mbombela, Mpumalanga Province.

The South African National Editors Forum (SANEF) reported that Mlangeni was reporting on a protest in Mbombela. The police ordered the protesters to disperse, an order they refused to comply with, saying they wanted to be addressed by a Member of the Executive Council.

In an effort to disperse the crowds, the police fired rubber bullets.

In the melee, Mlangeni said, she hid behind a truck that was being used as a stage, but she was still struck by the rubber bullet. She has since filed a report with the police.

In a similar incident in June, the South African police shot a NewzroomAfrika journalist, Mweli Masilela, who was covering taxi riots in KaNyamazane.

Masilela was shot in the cheek.

MISA Zimbabwe position

Cases involving the shooting of journalists on duty are very unsettling and a very serious violation of the right to media freedom which allows media workers to conduct their work without unlawful hindrances.

We call on the authorities and the police to ensure the safety and security of journalists in such situations.

Journalists play a critical role in disseminating information, particularly during protests on service delivery. MISA Zimbabwe reiterates its earlier calls for authorities to ensure the safety and security of media workers conducting their lawful professional duties.

Regional Solidarity statement
14 December 2020

Press Freedom Deteriorating in Egypt

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Press Freedom Deteriorating in Egypt

Over the past four years, Egypt has witnessed an increase in the brutal repression of press freedom under the regime of President Abdel Fattah el-Sissi. The government has effectively silenced dissent by disrupting or blocking media websites and jailing dozens of journalists.

Targeting journalists with the charge of publishing “false news,” the authorities conduct routine arrest and detention of journalists for their critical reporting, leading to widespread self-censorship in the country. The authorities often enforce media licensing laws discriminately and have weaponised the licensing regime to crack down on media organisations deemed “troublesome.”

In total disregard for Article 71 of Egypt’s Constitution which prohibits censorship and the shutdown of media houses, the Egyptian authorities have embarked on a mass blocking of news websites, with an estimated 500 websites affected.

In a report highlighting the dismal press freedom situation in Egypt, by the Accra-based African Freedom of Expression Exchange (AFEX), also denounced “a new draconian legislation” which grants the newly constituted Supreme Media Council the power to ban or suspend the distribution, broadcast, or operation of any publications or newspapers without judicial authorisation. Read the full report here.

MRA Condemns Blocking of Three Websites Associated With #EndSARS Protests

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MRA Condemns Blocking of Three Websites Associated With #EndSARS Protests

Lagos, Tuesday, December 1, 2020: Media Rights Agenda (MRA) today condemned the apparent surreptitious blocking of three websites associated with the #EndSARS protests in Nigeria, describing the action as a brazen and unjustifiable violation of the right to freedom of expression of the operators of the websites and other Nigerians who get information from the platforms.

The websites, www.feministcoalition2020.com, www.endsars.com, and www.radioisiaq.com, became inaccessible from Nigeria over the past few days but have remained accessible from other countries, a clear indication that they are being blocked only in Nigeria.

In a statement in Lagos, MRA contended that the blocking of the websites was illegal and a clear violation of the norms and standards established under international human rights law for the application of any limitation on the right to freedom of expression, particularly as the blocking of websites is not authorized by any law in Nigeria, no legitimate basis for such blocking has been established while the wholesale blocking of the websites cannot be a proportionate response to any offensive content that any of them may have published.

Ms Chioma Nwaodike, Head of MRA’s Legal Department, noted in the statement that as a State Party to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), Nigeria is bound by Article 19 of the instrument which requires that any restriction on the right to freedom of expression must be prescribed by law, pursue a legitimate aim, as well as necessary and proportional.

She accused the Nigerian Government of going down a frightening path by adopting such a  highhanded measure of maintaining an information blackout in a supposedly democratic country in an effort to prevent citizens and other members of the public from receiving or having access to information that is critical of the government or that portrays the government in negative light, saying that is a usual feature of governments that are leaning towards extreme dictatorship.

Ms Nwaodike argued that even if the operators of the websites have committed any offence, by blocking the websites without reference to the courts or the due process of law, the Nigerian government has constituted itself into an accuser, judge and executioner in violation of the rights to freedom of expression and fair hearing, guaranteed by the Nigerian Constitution as well as regional and international human rights instruments to which Nigeria is a party.

She said if the Government believes that any person or organization has committed an offense under any law in Nigeria, the proper thing for it to do is to bring the person or organization before a court of competent jurisdiction and not to resort to taking the laws into its own hands in total disregard for the constitutional rights of its citizens and the rule of law.

Ms Nwaodike called on the Nigerian Government to uphold its international commitments as a State Party to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) and the ICCPR, and urged it to commit itself to following due process of the law.

For further information, please contact:

Idowu Adewale

Communication Officer

Media Rights Agenda, Lagos

E-mail: idowu[at]mediarightsagenda.org

MFWA Petitions Ghana’s Immigration Authorities over Threats against Editor

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MFWA Petitions Ghana’s Immigration Authorities over Threats against Editor

The Media Foundation for West Africa (MFWA) has petitioned the Comptroller General of the Ghana Immigration Service, Kwame Asuah Takyi, over the conduct of an officer of the Service who has been issuing threats against the Editor of one of Ghana’s leading newspapers.

A story published in the November 24, 2020 edition of The Chronicle reported that  Isaac Dzihlornu, an officer of the Immigration Service, has at various times since 2018, issued threats against the paper’s editor, Emmanuel Akli, over a critical publication about him which is the subject of an ongoing defamation suit.

“Don’t be happy because you succeeded in destroying someone’s life. A time will come for you to cry,” reads one of the threats sent by Dzihlornu  via WhatsApp in November 2018.

Akli told MFWA that on January 16, 2019, the day investigative journalist Ahmed Suale was killed by unknown assailants in Accra, the Immigration officer sent him a video announcing Suale’s death, accompanied by the threat; “it will happen soon.”

A recent message from Dzihlornu to Akli on November 20, 2020 read “This is my last message to you. If you don’t publish a retraction of the stupid and useless stories you publish about me in your newspaper latest by Thursday next week, then you will blame yourself forever…”

The MFWA appealed to the Comptroller General of the Ghana Immigration Service to use his good offices to investigate the matter and call Dzihlornu to order.

“While the issue is not directly related to the performance of his official duties, the MFWA still believes that the conduct of Mr. Dzihlornu in this matter is disappointing and unbecoming of a senior officer of the Immigration Service. We therefore appeal to your good offices to take steps to call the officer to order,” the MFWA urged.

Kindly read the petition here.

Lesotho Police Shoot Journalist During Protests

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Lesotho Police Shoot Journalist During Protests

Lesotho police have been accused of shooting journalist Ntsoaki Motaung during a youth protest dubbed #BachaShutDown on 6 November 2020.

Motaung, who works for Newsday, was treated for minor wounds and discharged in the aftermath of the shooting.

On the same day the police arrested 357FM presenter Relebohile Moyeye Sebuti, for allegedly not wearing a mask. The police also detained Lentsoe la Basotho journalist, Moliwe Thobei , in as yet unclear circumstances. Sebuti and Thobei were released without being charged. Police justified their actions by saying they were dispersing an illegal gathering.

In the process, the police arrested 11 youths who had participated in the demonstration. The 11 appeared in court last week. The youth were protesting against joblessness and unemployment. Protests remain banned in Lesotho since the beginning of the country’s COVID-19 lockdown regulations on 3 April 2020.

MISA Zimbabwe position 
MISA Zimbabwe is concerned that regional governments continue to use the pretext of COVID-19 regulations to clamp down on media freedom and freedom of expression.

It is also worrying that the police had to use firearms, and in the process injuring a journalist who was carrying out her duties.

We urge the government of Lesotho and law enforcement agencies to ensure that journalists lawfully carrying out their duties are protected rather than harassed.

MISA Zimbabwe Regional Alert

Ethiopia’s Press Freedom Dreams under Abiy Ahmed Turning into Nightmare

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Ethiopia’s Press Freedom Dreams under Abiy Ahmed Turning into Nightmare

Before Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed Ali came to power in 2018, the country was known for its infamous blocking of websites and jamming of signals of television stations deemed critical of government, internet shutdowns and brutal crackdowns on protests.

The country ranked ranked 150th out of 180 in the 2017 Press Freedom Index. But this was to change with the coming into power of the current Prime Minister.

When Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed came to power in early April 2018, he promised to improve press freedom conditions in the country. He even announced that one of his administration’s immediate successes was the opening up of the media landscape which included the “unblocking of 246 websites” that were previously banned from being accessed in Ethiopia. He also released some journalists and bloggers who were in detention.

Although Ethiopia jumped 40 places up in the World Press Freedom Index in 2019 and hosted the global World Press Freedom Day event in May that year, the perceived reforms promised and undertaken by the government have been generally unsatisfactory and the gains are fast eroding.

The government practically limited the media’s access to information when it scrapped the Government Communications Affairs Office in 2018. The Press Secretariat under the Office of the Prime Minister (PM) only gives information on activities within the PM’s Office, the deputy PM’s and the First Lady’s offices. Communications departments in every ministry or agency are more of guardians of information rather than information providers.

Stringent Regulatory Environment

 

Ethiopia’s Constitution has provisions for freedom of expression and press freedom. The country is also a signatory to Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR), the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), and the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights as well as the African Charter on Democracy, Elections and Governance. These guarantees not withstanding, journalists and citizens are not completely free to express themselves.  Legislations such as the Mass Media and Access to Information Proclamation, Broadcast Services Proclamation and Computer Crimes Proclamation all contain provisions that restrict the enjoyment of freedom of expression. Further, the Criminal Code, Anti-Terrorism Proclamation as well as Advertisement Proclamation also contain provisions that are repressive to press freedom.

The government on assumption of office established a working group under the Federal Attorney General to amend the widely criticized problematic laws that included the infamous Anti-Terrorism Proclamation and the freedom of the Mass Media and Access to information (ATI) Proclamation.

The much talked about amendment of the mass media and ATI proclamations is still pending as the government rather prioritized the introduction a media policy, which the Council of Ministers’ approved on August 22, 2020.

According to the newly adopted mass media policy document, its objectives are to enable the “media play roles expected from them in accordance with the constitutionally provided duties and rights”. According to the policy framers, these roles the media are expected to play include bringing public interest to the fore, as well as “ensure national culture and values.”  These objectives have raised concerns that the media could be censored when it reports on an issue the governments considers not appropriate for the “national culture and values.” This assigning of media roles also raises concerns of media independence.

The policy document admits that despite legal frameworks, freedom of expression and press freedom is limited in the country. It states that it is important to protect journalists and media institutions from interreference and influence. It also indicates that laws that hinder the freedom of the media and contradict with the provisions in the constitution should be reviewed and amended. It however, fails to denounce violations against the media in strong terms and does not specifically affirm any concrete recommendations on protecting journalists from attacks.

 It also fails to commit itself when it comes to creating a safe  environment for journalists to work in.

Even before any results are achieved with this media law reform agenda to improve the press freedom and freedom of expression situation, the government appeared to have thwarted all efforts by enacting a strict social media and anti-fake news law known as the ‘Hate Speech and Disinformation Prevention and Suppression Proclamation’ in March 2020.

Passed with the excuse to “prevent and suppress by law the deliberate dissemination of hate speech and disinformation,” the law provides criminal liability imprisonment from two to five years and a fine of 5,000 to 100,000 Ethiopian Birr (about US$130 to US$2,632).

Many rights advocates including the Collaboration for Eastern and Southern Africa (CIPESA) have expressed concerns over the provisions of the law. According to CIPESA, “the definitions presented in Article 2 of the proclamation, specifically the definition of “hate speech” and “disinformation” are overbroad and ambiguous.”

In Article 2.2, hate speech is defined as “speech that deliberately promotes hatred, discrimination or attack against a person or an discernable group of identity, based on ethnicity, religion, race, gender or disability” while Article 2.3 defines disinformation as “speech that is false, is disseminated by a person who knew or should reasonably have known the falsity of the information and is highly likely to cause a public disturbance, riot, violence or conflict.”

“These definitions do not meet the definitions of freedom of speech, expression and information laid down in article 19 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR), article 19(3) of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) and article 9 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples Rights. For instance, under the Proclamation, it is difficult to determine the scope of hate speech, namely where legitimate free speech stops and where hate speech starts. This overbroad definition renders it subject to discretionary interpretation by law enforcers such as prosecutors and courts, which creates ground for abusing citizens’ rights of freedom of expression and the right to information” CIPESA noted.

Arbitrary Arrests and Detentions

 

At least 17 journalists have been arrested in connection with their work this year.

In March 2020, journalist Yayesew Shimelis was detained by security forces after he made a Facebook post that claimed the government had ordered the preparation of 200,000 graves for projected COVID-19 causalities. The Federal Ministry of Health condemned this reporting and said that the post was meant to confuse the public. Yayesew was charged with the Anti-Terrorism Proclamation. But his charges were changed and he was later charged with the newly ratified Hate Speech proclamation. As it happened repeatedly with the case of many arrested journalists, Yayesew’s bail that was granted to him by two court orders was delayed by the police.

Kenyan journalist Collins Juma Osemo also known as Yassin Juma, and three journalists from Oromia Media Network, Melese Direbssa, Guyo Wariyo, and Mohammed Siraj as well as their driver, Chibsa Abdulkerim were arrested on July 2, 2020. Wariyo was released after being in detention in 45 days.  Juma was later released but Deribssa is still fighting in court for criminal charges along with Jawar Mohammed and other prominent politicians.

On August 9, 2020, three journalists from Asrat TV were also arrested. Journalists Belay Menaye, Mulugeta Anberbir, and Misganw Kefelgn of Asrat TV were taken into custody without any explanation from security forces. The arrest of the journalists without the provision of medicine and clothing was disclosed by Asrat TV on Facebook.

In another incident of press freedom violation, Wolaita Times online media editor Natnael Gecho was detained and released on September 4, 2020 after four days for “inciting violence using his Facebook.”

Also on September 14, 2020, the managing editor of Feteh Magazine, Temesgen Dessalegn, along with the Editor in Chief of the magazine, Misgan Zinabe, were arrested by police on charges of defamation and violation of the country’s Communications Act. Temesgen and Misgan were released the next day on condition that they would report to the police ‘whenever they are needed’.

Another case of arbitrary detention was that of Ermias Mulugeta, Editor in Chief too the weekly Addis Maleda newspaper. He was taken from his office on October 26, 2020 and released  after nine hours in detention. The police offered no reasons for his detention.

At least five journalists have been arrested and detained in November.

Following the breakout of military confrontation between the Tigray People Liberation Front (TPLF) and the federal government, journalist Bekalu Alamirew who works for the online Awlo Media has been detainedwithout any explanation of why? His whereabouts were not known until his coworkers located him after numerous asks in various prisons.

Apart from these arrests and detentions, Ethiopia continues to witness frequent internet shutdowns in the country during or in the aftermath of protests of various nature also hinder journalists’ work including information gathering, exchange and dissemination. A recent protest that rocked the country following the killing of prominent Oromo singer Hachallu Hundessa resulted in the shutdown of the internet for about three weeks.

This killing of also led to the closure of media houses as well as arrest of journalists that worked in these media houses. Shot on June 30 midnight, Hachalu’s remains were carried to Ambo, his birthplace some 110 kilometers west of Addis Ababa with live coverage from the Oromia Media Network (OMN). The government accused the OMN inciting violence and immediately shut down OMN’s studio in Addis Ababa.

The Federal Attorney General indicated that the OMN, Asrat TV and Dimtsi Woyane TV studios in Addis Ababa were raided and documents seized.  The stations stopped airing programmes from Addis since June 30, 2020. OMN is now broadcasting from outside Ethiopia. Dimtsi Woyane TV is broadcasting from Tigray while Asrat TV is currently off air.

In addition to this, journalists have been attacked in the country by a mob. This poses a huge risk for the mobility of journalists as this is the integral part of their job. In times of conflicts like this, the risks of journalists being attacked is high. This shows the gaps in the public awareness of the role of journalism and the media.

The government of Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed owes a duty to the people of Ethiopia to protect and respect their human rights particularly freedom of expression, freedom of assembly and digital rights.

In this regard, there is an urgent need to amend legislations that have a bearing on enjoyment of freedom of expression. The passage of progressive freedom of expression laws and policies would ultimately lead to independent journalism and also improve the sustainability of the media.

Uganda: Police and Hooligans Attack Journalists

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Uganda: Police and Hooligans Attack Journalists

Plain clothed men arrested Tony Lule, a journalist attached to Bukedde TV on 12th November 2020 at about 6pm at the Vision Group offices in Kampala. It is alleged that Lule attacked the first son, General Muhoozi Kainerugaba on his Facebook account. However, his colleagues say the Facebook page is managed by a different person who shares the same name with him, calling the arrest a mistaken identity.

Mubuke Godfrey, a producer with Bukedde Television who has been closely following up the matter told HRNJ-Uganda that they went to the Counter Terrorism Unit in Bukoto but were denied access to the victim, “We are coming from the establishment that is handling the case. Unfortunately, we were not able to see him. We were told that we can only see him on Monday.” Mubuke told HRNJ-Uganda during an interview.

He added that Lule is detained at the Special Investigations Unit (SIU) in Kireka, a place used to detain hardcore criminals. He insists that the said Facebook account is managed by a different person who shares the same name with their colleague. HRNJ-Uganda is however following up this matter.

Elsewhere, on the same day, a media branded car that was carrying the NBS TV crew covering the campaign trail of presidential aspirant Robert Kyagulanyi Ssentamu aka Bobi Wine who is contesting on the National Unity Platform (NUP) party was vandalized by alleged goons. According to Daniel Lutaaya while appearing on the ‘NBS Media Round Table’ Friday morning, narrated that as the NBS TV crew trailing Bobi Wine, they encountered a riot in the making and some youths had put blockades on the road. They successfully passed the first road block and were attacked as they approached the second one. They were hit with stones hence damaging the car glasses. One of their bags containing a laptop, phones and a charger was taken by the attackers.

Kitimbo Thomas who was injured during the scuffle told HRNJ-Uganda in an interview that he was feeling a lot of headache. He said he had some residues of glasses on the left hand and the head, so he was traveling back to Kampala for specialized treatment.

On the second day of the presidential nominations on 2nd Nov, 2020, security forces led by the police and the army were seen hauling teargas canister at well-branded media vehicles that were reporting the arrest and carrying away the Bobi Wine shortly after his nominations at Kyambogo University. There was no reason given for targeting media vans during the fracas, yet the media is mandated to cover all of the eleven duly nominated presidential candidates.

“We condemn the conduct of the youths in Lira who attacked the journalists. We certainly know this is a difficult time for the media in Uganda due to the political face-offs associated with campaigns and elections in Uganda. We appeal to the media to be resilient and also implore police in Lira to expeditiously investigate this matter such that the culprits are brought to book. We also appeal to SIU to release Tony Lule as they continue conducting their investigations. Police should desist from arresting and detention of journalists before thorough investigations have been conducted, as such has a negative effect on press freedom.” Said the HRNJ-Uganda Executive Director Robert Ssempala.

How Liberia’s Coronavirus Misinformation Spread Far More than the Virus Itself

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How Liberia’s Coronavirus Misinformation Spread Far More than the Virus Itself

On March 16, 2020, the first coronavirus case in Liberia was confirmed; a government official, Mr. Nathaniel Blama who traveled from Switzerland tested positive.  President George Weah controversially named Blama, and claimed he violated screening protocols at Roberts International Airport (RIA) in Harbel, Margibi County.

A few hours after the President addressed the nation, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) came out with a rebuttal, stating that its Executive Director never evaded any preventive health protocols at the Roberts International Airport and that the information as provided was a fake news.

The EPA boss, himself in a two-minute audio recording in which he appeared to be talking with friends, said he did not by-pass any health procedures but has been doing just as the doctors have been saying. He added that more damage has been done by the misinformation that he refused to be quarantined.

“I did not do anything out of protocols. I talked to the doctors and they advised that since I was okay I should not create panic and that I should drive myself to the hospital and the ambulance was going to be behind me. And we did just that. So why are you guys panicking? Talk to Dr. Francis Kateh, talk to Dr. Mosoka Fallah. That’s what we agreed upon,” said Mr Blama.

These events created doubts that eventually ushered in the beginning of the spread of misinformation, disinformation which has up to now characterized the fight of COVID-19 in Liberia.

This messy information mismanagement even spread panic and disbeliefs on radio and across social media that “COVID-19 Does Not Exist” or “There is No Coronavirus in Liberia”.

Citizens went on to even accuse the government of attempting to solicit money from the international community and foreign nations by announcing that the country had reported the first case of COVID-19. Many citizens who called into radio talk shows denounced the existence of the virus in Liberia.

One major event that fueled the ”COVID-19 Does Not Exist” notion was the relative short period of time it took Information Minister Eugene Nagbe whom the government said was positive to recover from the virus, even though he appeared to be in good health during live interviews he conducted from his treatment bed.

It took many by surprise that given the severity of the virus in US, Italy and other powerful nations, Minister Nagbe, who was last seen in public, April 23, 2020, sitting behind President Weah during the President’s virtual extraordinary session of the Authority of ECOWAS Heads of State, focusing on the impact of COVID-19 on member states recovered in less than a week.

Nathaniel Blama and others who were confirmed positive earlier spent nearly a month at the same 14 Military Hospital undergoing treatment.

As the country prepared for a surge in cases, misleading information like the false claim that inhaling steam is an effective treatment against coronavirus also spread.

On May 14, a Facebook user posted on the popular “Costa Show” page that “Consuming High Content Alcohol protects against COVID-19, “COVID-19 does not infect Black People.”

In May, the local radio Kool FM reported an unverified story that the President of Liberia had tested positive for coronavirus. This news angered the government and met stiff resistance with the Solicitor General and chief government prosecutor threatening to shut down any radio or newspaper that reported fake news on COVID-19.

Sky FM reported a story on July 20, six days to the celebration of Liberia’s independence that a prayer woman it granted an interview disclosed that about a half of the country’s population would have died from COVID-19 if Liberian authorities did not “cancel any planned July 26 celebration in Monrovia and across the country.”

‘Prayer Mother Martha’, as she is only identified as, said further that the global COVID-19 pandemic is a divine punishment from God for the many sins committed “against his will”.

The government’s testing of dead bodies additionally created a whole new round of misinformation and media reports. The New Dawn Newspaper published a story on July 10, in which it stated that “testing of bodies could be increasing the number of COVID-19 deaths as many of the bodies tested didn’t actually die from the virus.”

Further, a prominent infectious disease scientist, Dr. Dougbeh Chris Nyan went public berating the government’s testing regime as faulty.

Said Dr. Nyan: “regime for COVID-19 is completely inaccurate and there needs to be an investigation into the wrong testing results repeatedly produced by the National Public Health Reference Lab for patients or people tested for SARS-CoV-2 which causes the COVID-19 disease.”

On July 10, 2020, a controversy arose over a contradictory COVID-19 test result given to Professor Alaric Tokpa, the National Chairman of the National Democratic Coalition of Liberia who was due to travel to the United States, but banned from traveling due to the faulty testing results.

Professor Tokpa took a COVID-19 test at the National Public Health Reference Lab and was given an official “negative” result signed by the Director of the Public Health Institute of Liberia Dr. Mosoka Fallah. Later the same day, Professor Tokpa received a text from Dr. Fallah with a “POSITIVE” result followed by a telephone call with the same “POSITIVE” result from Dr. Wapoe, the Montserrado County Health Officer, explained Dr. Nyan to the journalist group, Local Voices-Around the Country.

In Buchanan, Grand Bassa County, Ablejay TV on August 13, reported that the superintendent Janjay Baikpeh had ordered residents to “begin consumption of Garlic water” as a guaranteed treatment for Novel Coronavirus. The County health team of Grand Bassa later reacted to this news story-saying it did not have the backing of science and medicine that garlic water is an effective cure for COVID-19. The superintendent later took back his words saying “I was just ensuring protection for my people”

Clearly, the Liberia’s government’s public information management went terribly messy throughout Liberia’s COVID-19 fight. The National Public Health Institute of Liberia’s controversial testing results also caused widespread misinformation.

On September 4, 2020, President George Weah had to “dismiss with immediate effect Dr. Mosoka Fallah, the Director-General of the National Public Health Institute of Liberia (NPHIL) following an investigative report into his management of NPHIL and the continuous contradictory COVID-19 reports”.

COVID-19 Fake News and its Impact on Journalism

Many African governments have suffered setbacks in the fight against COVID-19 as the millions of citizens continue to doubt the existence and excusing officials of plotting to extort money from foreign donors.

The outpouring of funds and supplies from foreign nations, philanthropists and international partners, many Liberians have suggested presents new opportunities for corruption and misuse of public funds.

It became a difficult time to be a journalist anywhere in Liberia, and with no exception taking into account, accuracy, and safety and heightening security measures that accompanied three months of lockdown.

To inform the public during these uncertain times, newsrooms across the country have had to be extremely careful in making pandemic coverage a priority. But in Liberia, the ever-changing and mostly unverified nature of COVID-19 news and data being released often left journalists and researchers with serious challenges in providing accurate information to the public.

In an effort to combat the spread of fake news, the government setup a risk communication team within the incidence management system to help propagate information, train and coordinate with journalists.

The Center for Media Studies and Peace Building (CEMESP) is also implementing a series of radio talk shows to raise awareness on the threat of fake news and misinformation. The project includes daily review of newspapers, picking up details from stories misinformation regarding COVID-19.

CEMESP then sends the details to a studio where public health experts and relevant duty bearers from the Government of Liberia’s COVID-19 Incident Management System come to address them and debunk any false information and provide accurate news. This is going a long way to curb COVID-19 misinformation in Liberia.

Guinea: Media Regulatory Body Lifts Suspension on News Website

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Guinea: Media Regulatory Body Lifts Suspension on News Website

The Media Foundation for West Africa welcomes the lifting of the one-month suspension imposed on online press, Guineematin, by the Haute Autorité de la Communication (HAC), Guinea’s media regulatory body.

the suspension of guineematin.com followed the refusal of the general administrator of the website to stop a live broadcast on the site’s Facebook page of official polling station results during the counting of controversial presidential election in Guinea, which gave President Alpha Conde victory for a third term.

“It is a liberticidal sanction. It is disappointing because no law prohibits the dissemination of official results announced and posted in polling stations,” said Nouhou Baldé, the founder of guineematin.com.

The MFWA had called on the HAC to lift the sanction as access to information is one of the indispensable conditions for transparent and credible elections.

In a statement made public by the HAC, on 2nd November, 2020, the online press was  asked to resume operations.

“The High Authority of Communication (HAC) meeting in plenary session on Monday, October 26, 2020, after having deliberated per the law, decided to lift the suspension of the site www.guineematin.com; the authorization of the site to resume its activities from Monday, November 2, 2020,”  a statement signed by Boubacar Yacine Diallo Yacine, president of the HAC read.

The lifting of the suspension was hailed by the President of the Guinean Association of Online Press (AGUIPEL).

“I am very happy that the steps we took to lift Guineematin’s suspension have been successful. It was a misunderstanding between the HAC and the Guineematin administration. It is settled and it is a triumphant step for freedom of expression in Guinea,” said Tama Camara, President of AGUIPEL at MFWA.

Nigeria: MRA Calls on Government to Establish Mechanisms to Combat Impunity for Crimes Against Journalists

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Nigeria: MRA Calls on Government to Establish Mechanisms to Combat Impunity for Crimes Against Journalists

On the occasion of this year’s International Day to End Impunity for crimes against journalists, Media Rights Agenda (MRA) today called on the Federal Government to facilitate the establishment of mechanisms to combat impunity for attacks and violence against media workers in order to ensure accountability for such acts and discourage future attacks.

In a statement issued in Lagos, MRA’s Executive Director, Mr. Edetaen Ojo, insisted that developing and implementing strategies for combatting impunity for attacks and violence against journalists and other media workers was one of the most effective ways of responding to the high incidence of crimes against journalists in the country and preventing future attacks.

He said: “Any failure on the part of government to take decisive action to end impunity for crimes against journalists and put mechanisms in place to respond to, punish perpetrators and prevent future attacks will create a vicious circle where journalists do not get justice for the crimes committed against them while the perpetrators are emboldened and will continue such attacks unchecked.”

Mr. Ojo outlined options open to the Government in developing and implementing such strategies to include the establishment of a multi-stakeholder independent commission; the creation of special investigative units; or the appointment of a special prosecutor as well as the adoption of specific protocols and methods for investigating cases and prosecuting the perpetrators of such attacks while also protecting journalists and media workers who are threatened.

He said the mandate of such a body or official would conceivably include conducting speedy, thorough, independent and effective investigations into all cases of alleged violence, threats and attacks against journalists and media workers, such as physical attacks, assaults, cases of torture, unlawful arrests and detention, threats to life or of physical harm, seizure or destruction of professional equipment, and bringing the perpetrators to justice, including those who ordered the attacks, conspired to carry them out, aided and abetted or covered up such crimes.  The mechanism would also ensure that victims and their families have access to appropriate compensations, assistance and restitution.

Mr. Ojo called on the Federal Government to urgently convene a meeting of stakeholders to discuss the matter in detail, agree on the most effective national mechanism to be adopted and decide how it should operate as well as its powers and functions.

He called on the Government to fulfill its international obligations by launching a serious and transparent investigation into all unresolved cases of murders of journalists, noting that since the 1986 assassination of the former Editor-in-Chief of Newswatch magazine, Mr. Dele Giwa, numerous journalists have been killed in the country and that in none of these cases have the perpetrators been identified, tried in court, convicted and punished for their crimes.

Mr.  Ojo also observed that over the years, there have been hundreds of other cases of attacks on journalists, other media workers and media facilities which have not been seriously investigated and for which the perpetrators have not been prosecuted and punished.

According to him, “Over the last one month, we have witnessed attacks on journalists and media organizations in such numbers, with such intensity and brazenness never before seen in our recent history. While the government’s track record of respect for and protection of media freedom has never been remarkable, events in the past few weeks indicate an escalation in the attacks against the media that is extremely concerning.”

Mr. Ojo argued that the Government’s lukewarm attitude towards attacks on the media, even when government officials or security agents are not the perpetrators, is not only unhelpful to international efforts to combat impunity for crimes against journalists everywhere, but also constitutes an abdication of responsibility.

He contended that although journalists and media organizations are the immediate and primary victims of such attacks, given the important role that the media play in society, including in advancing democratic culture and practice, the ultimate losers are Nigerians in the wider society as most of them would remain ill-informed and even more susceptible to fake news, misinformation and disinformation.

The United Nations General Assembly proclaimed November 2 as the International Day to End Impunity for Crimes against Journalists in Resolution A/RES/68/163, adopted on December 18, 2013 in which it urged UN Member States to “do their utmost to prevent violence against journalists and media workers, to ensure accountability through the conduct of impartial, speedy and effective investigations into all alleged violence against journalists and media workers falling within their jurisdiction and to bring the perpetrators of such crimes to justice and ensure that victims have access to appropriate remedies.”

 For further information, please contact:

Idowu Adewale
Communications Officer
Media Rights Agenda (MRA)
E-mail: idowu[@]mediarightsagenda.org

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