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Cote d’Ivoire: Prison Officers Assault and Detain Journalist in Prison Cell

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Cote d’Ivoire: Prison Officers Assault and Detain Journalist in Prison Cell

A journalist who had gone to a prison facility in Abidjan to interview a warden about allegations of extortion of prisoners by one of the prison officers was assaulted and detained in a prison cell.

Claude Dasse of L’Intelligent d’Abidjannewspaper, went to the Maison d’Arret et de Correction d’Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire’s the largest civilian prison after obtaining an appointment to speak to Hincleban Koné warden of the facility.

When Dasse arrived at the prison, he was rather received by Koné Kassoum, the alleged mastermind of the fraudulent dealings.

Kassoum got infuriated when Dasse asked whether he could record the interview and throw the journalist into one of the prison cells.

“They kept me there for about 4 hours. They beat me here and there. When he let me go, Koné Kassoum warned me not to write anything on what happened, nor on the subject for which I had come. Otherwise, it’ll be my death,” Dassé told the local media.

The MFWA condemns the physical attack on Dasse and his subsequent detention by the prison officers and urges the prison authorities to investigate the incident and bring Kassoum to book. We also call on the police to thoroughly investigate the threat against Dasse and provide him protection to enable him carry out his duties in safety.

Zimbabwe’s Cybersecurity and Data Protection Bill Entrenches Surveillance

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Zimbabwe’s Cybersecurity and Data Protection Bill Entrenches Surveillance

Introduction

The advent of the Internet and related technological developments have been celebrated for providing platforms for widespread and ‘unrestricted’ exercise of freedom of expression and access to information rights and conducting of transactions online among other aspects.

Indeed, Africa in general, and in Zimbabwe in particular, has witnessed growth in internet penetration.

With the COVID-19 pandemic and implementation of national lockdowns, businesses, education and day to day work in general, is generally now being conducted online thus indicating the importance of digital platforms and tools.

These developments should thus be an awakening for Zimbabwe to have in place a democratic legal framework to regulate online activity. This comes at a time when the continued existence of colonial and unconstitutional laws and flawed democratic practices continue to hinder the enjoyment of digital rights.

MISA Zimbabwe, therefore, notes the long-awaited gazetting of the Cybersecurity and Data Protection Bill whose objective is to increase cybersecurity in order to build confidence and trust in the secure use of information and communication technologies by data controllers, their representatives and data subjects.

In February 2019, following the approval for the repeal of AIPPA by Cabinet, the Data Protection Bill was one of the Bills that was proposed to address data protection and privacy issues in alignment with the Constitution. The gazetted Bill sets out to merge the two aspects: being cybersecurity and data protection.

Shortly before the ouster of former President Robert Mugabe, a Ministry of Cybersecurity, Threat Detection and Mitigation, was set up. Subsequent to reshuffles in government, this ministry morphed into a department under the existing Ministry of Information Communication Technologies.

It is therefore poignant to note that, and according to the then Presidential spokesperson at the material time, the ministry had been established to catch “mischievous rats” that abused social media.

More recently in March 2020, Zimbabwe National Army (ZNA) Commander, Lieutenant-General Edzai Chimonyo, addressing senior military commissioned officers at the Zimbabwe Military Academy in Gweru, highlighted that the military would soon start snooping into private communications between private citizens to “guard against subversion,” as social media has become a threat to national security.

MISA Zimbabwe therefore hopes that the crafting and enforcement of this legislation will not be blinkered or narrowed to entirely prioritise the protection of ‘national interests’ and the prevention of ‘social media abuse’ at the expense of digital security and protection of the privacy of internet users in Zimbabwe.

Analysis of the Bill

To begin with, Section 5 and 7 of the Bill seek to establish the Postal and Telecommunications Regulatory Authority of Zimbabwe (POTRAZ), as the Cybersecurity Centre and Data Protection Authority, respectively. This essentially gives POTRAZ the roles of potentially three bodies, being the regulator of the telecommunications industry, the cybersecurity centre and the data protection authority.

As rightly laid out in the Bill, POTRAZ is created in terms of the Postal and Telecommunications Act [Chapter 12:05] and likewise its roles should be limited to those laid out in [Chapter 12:05]. It is inappropriate to also allocate the functions of the Cybersecurity Centre and Data Protection Authority in their entirety to POTRAZ. There is no justifiable basis to promote such monopoly by POTRAZ as this frowns upon the basic principles of efficiency, before even delving into the nitty-gritties of the independence of this body.

It is MISA Zimbabwe’s submission that a separate and independent body be set up to handle all cybersecurity issues, comprising stakeholders who advocate for internet freedom and protection of digital rights.

The Bill makes provision for the processing of data, which includes the organization and alterations among others. More recently, the Finance Minister, Mthuli Ncube, at a post-cabinet briefing on the economic relief for Covid-19, said government had used ‘a sophisticated algorithm’ which used bank accounts and also relied on mobile numbers to access the locations of individuals.

In this regard, there was need to notify the data subjects prior to the collection of this information as well as clear information on how the data was processed.

Meanwhile, the processing of sensitive information, genetic data, biometric data and health data is prohibited under this Bill, except in specified circumstances which include where the processing is necessary to comply with national security laws and also for the prevention of imminent danger or the mitigation of a specific criminal offence.

It should be noted that Zimbabwe has a history of surveillance through its laws that seek to promote national security like the Official Secrets Act and the Interceptions of Communications Act. These laws are not aligned to the Constitution and have provisions that continue to violate the exercise of rights.

There is, therefore, need to ensure that all national security laws are reviewed in line with the human rights framework in the Constitution. In circumstances where information relates to national security, more often than not, there is no disclosure of sufficient information under the auspices of national interests.

This poses the danger of such provisions being abused and exposing citizens to over surveillance by government and state security agents, thus, violating their right to privacy.

In the event of any security breach, the Bill provides in Section 19, that the data controller shall notify the Authority, without any undue delay of any security breach affecting data that he or she processes. It is imperative that the law should provide a specific timeline under which the security breach shall be communicated rather than leaving the provision open to interpretation on what entails undue delay.

In addition, the Bill provides an obligation to data controllers, except for those in specified circumstances to notify the Data Protection Authority prior to any wholly or partly automated operation or set of operations intended to serve a single purpose or several related purposes.

The notification is not required where the data controller has appointed a data protection officer. It is also important for the law to make it obligatory for every data controller to appoint a data protection officer. A data protection officer in terms of the Bill, refers to any individual appointed by the data controller and is charged with ensuring, in an independent manner, compliance with the obligations provided for in this Bill.

However, the question that therefore arises is who polices the data protection officer and ensures that they are independent and exercise due diligence?

The Bill also amends the provisions in Sections 163-166 of the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act, which speaks on offences relating to computer systems, computer data, data storage mediums, data codes and devices.

However, it is commendable that the law seeks to put in place provisions relating to hacking, unlawful interference and interception of data and computer systems. By nature, these crimes are usually premeditated (planned in advance) and threaten the online security of Internet users.

It is therefore important to question whether or not, the prosecuting authorities will have the know-how and the technical capacity to prosecute such offences. It should also be noted that the Internet has created a global village and such hacking or unlawful interferences can be perpetrated by persons outside Zimbabwe and thus outside the jurisdiction of our law enforcement authorities.

The provisions on offences relating to electronic communications and materials need to be highlighted as well. It has been noted that online spaces have become unsafe due to instances of brigading e.g. Varakashi versus Nerrorists, cyberbullying and harassment, revenge and child pornography, the production of racist and xenophobic material among other incidences.

It is therefore commendable that the law takes note of these developments and seeks through the proposed law to regulate them.

There are, however, other provisions that have the potential to infringe on the exercise of media freedom, freedom of expression and access to information.

Section 164 states:

“Any person who unlawfully by means of a computer or information system makes available, transmits, broadcasts or distributes a data message to any person, group of persons or to the public with intend to incite such persons to commit acts of violence against any person or persons or to cause damage to any property shall be guilty of an offence and liable to a fine not exceeding level ten or to imprisonment for a period not exceeding five years or to both such fine and such imprisonment.”

Provisions such as these are at risk of being relied on to inhibit constructive criticism which is important for promoting transparency and accountability especially from the government.

There is therefore a danger that such provisions will be used as political tools and mechanisms by the state to prevent the expression of dissenting opinions. This will potentially stifle citizen engagement and open debate, both of which are necessary elements to promote democracy.

Regarding the prohibition of cyberbullying and harassment in Section 164B, it should be noted that the proposed law criminalises not only the generation but also the communication of such offensive messages from ‘any electronic medium accessible by any person’ which in essence also includes social media.

Section 164C of the Bill which also criminalises the use of a computer or information system to avail, broadcast, distribute data knowing it to be false and intending to cause psychological or economic harm to someone, also seems to be targeted against the spread of false information on social media.

In the prosecution of this offence, the law needs to be clear on who the arbiter of truth will be. It will also need to be proven that the perpetrator knew that the information was false and also that he or she had an intention to cause harm.

Assumptions should not be made of the fact that the accused person had knowledge of the falsity of the statement. This is particularly taking note of the magnitude of the use of the Internet, which can make it difficult to determine the origin and authenticity of a message. This means that individuals will receive messages voluntarily or involuntarily.

And, with the rise of citizen journalism through the use of the Internet, these provisions have the potential of implicating thousands of ordinary citizens who would have ‘received’ and communicated such messages.

MISA Zimbabwe therefore advocates for clear procedures and elements to establish intention to commit the offences so as to ensure that a balance will be struck between regulation of the Internet space and exercise of fundamental rights.

MISA Zimbabwe therefore calls for the equal prioritisation and balancing of the functions of the Cybersecurity Centre and Data Protection Authority to ensure that significance is not placed only on cybersecurity while data protection, privacy and the interrelated fundamental rights are neglected. The conflation of these three institutions poses a dual crisis, with POTRAZ, on one hand, becoming the surveillance arm of the state while also having access to the large volumes of data collected by the Mobile Network Operators (MNOs) and Internet Service Providers (ISPs). This therefore compromises data protection and the right to privacy.

It is therefore important to ensure that the proposed law is in conformity with the Constitution and international legal frameworks such as the African Declaration on Internet Rights and Freedoms.

Democratic law-making processes place high significance and consideration on the views of key stakeholders and the general public.

MISA Zimbabwe therefore hopes that the law-making authorities will be open to submissions and suggestions that can refine this law in line with international policy guidelines on cybersecurity and data protection.

 

The analysis of the Cybersecurity and Data Protection Bill PDF is also available for download here.

IPC Demands Recall of Journalist Suspended over Facebook Post on Non-Payment of Salary

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IPC Demands Recall of Journalist Suspended over Facebook Post on Non-Payment of Salary

The International Press Centre Lagos has described as unjust and inhuman the suspension of Vivian Ottih, a lawyer and senior editor with the government-owned IBC Orient FM radio station.

Mrs Ottih was suspended indefinitely following her post on Facebook dated May 4, 2020 appealing to Governor Hope Uzodinma’s media aide, Modestus Nwamkpa, to make a case to the governor on behalf of the workers in the government-owned radio and television stations who were yet to be paid their February, March, and April salaries.

Mrs Ottih who is also the chairperson of the Nigeria Association of Women Journalists (NAWOJ), in Imo State explained that she was personally hard-hit by the situation because she recently had a baby.

The Executive Director, IPC, Mr Lanre Arogundade in a statement stated that the  suspension is a violation of Mrs. Ottih’s fundamental right under the constitution and international instruments including Article 23 of the 1948 Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

The Executive Director  said anti-labour practise of non- payment of salaries especially during the current pandemic is subjecting journalists to economic hardship, pains and penury.

‘The State Governments, who ordinarily should be the most protective of their workers welfare, are now the biggest culprits needlessly owing salaries for periods up to three months thus threatening their workers’ welfare” he stressed.

Mr. Arogundade said the reaction of the state government to Mrs. Ottih’s allegation should have been one of sobriety and not anger leading to the victmisation of an innocent soul who dared to speak for others.

He therefore called on the state government to unconditionally recall the victmised journalist.

Mr. Arogundade also urged the state government to take immediate steps to pay all salaries owed  journalists in its employment.


Stella NwofiaProgram Manager
Tel: 234-(0)8020359629, 08063810424
Email: stellanwofia[@]ipcng.org, stellanwofia[@]gmail.com, stellanwofia[@]yahoo.com

Uganda’s Social Media Tax Undermining COVID-19 Fight

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Uganda’s Social Media Tax Undermining COVID-19 Fight

Globally, in the wake of the outbreak of coronavirus disease (COVID-19), social media has played various roles, such as  filling information vacuums and providing channels for citizens to demand accountability and transparency. In Uganda, the government and other agencies have utilised social media as one of the avenues for disseminating information to citizens, including providing status updates on confirmed cases, as well as running public health and safety campaigns.

However, the effectiveness of social media to reach a wider audience in Uganda has likely been undermined by the social media tax, which the finance ministry introduced in July 2018. The tax on so-called Over-the-Top (OTT) services requires  telecom subscribers to pay a daily subscription in order to access popular social media platforms, such as Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and WhatsApp.

Despite several requests to suspend the tax during the pandemic, the government has upheld it, thereby  excluding segments of the population from easily accessing information and resources via the taxable platforms. Last month, the Speaker of Parliament joined the chorus of those urging the suspension of the tax so as to aid the fight against the pandemic. Her call rode on the revelation by the tax authority that the OTT tax had dismally failed to raise the revenue earlier anticipated, and admission from the minister for information and communications technology that the tax needed to be rethought.

Uganda’s internet penetration stands at 38%, but with research indicating that many subscribers have more than one internet subscription, the proportion of citizens that use the internet could be much lower than 38%. A key challenge is cost. An average Ugandan telecom subscriber spends UGX 10,500 (USD 2.8) per month on voice, SMS and data, yet  access to social media for a month costs an additional USD 1.6 as OTT tax.

Indeed, multiple and high taxation on digitisation remains a stumbling block to increased inclusion not only to basic social media access but also for mobile money usage, digital banking, and access to public e-services.

While all forms of communication including radio, television and in some cases, loudspeakers are playing vital roles in keeping citizens informed on Covid-19, social media is providing a valuable channel for reporting public health gaps, encouraging transparency, accountability, clarification and case monitoring – yet its reach is limited by the OTT tax.

In the early stages of Uganda’s lockdown, it was through social media posts of academic and satirist, Dr. Spire Ssentongo, that many citizens learnt of the cracks in the states’ quarantine processes, such as the forced excessive accommodation prices for quarantined individuals, and the continued public operations of hotels that had been designated as gazetted quarantine centres. Many others also took to social media to share their experiences and the Ministry of Health was forced to respond to these concerns.

Meanwhile, opposition Member of Parliament Robert Kyaluganyi used his social media platform tolaunch an educative music video on the pandemic in March, and within 10 hours of its release it had garnered more than 700,000 views. He later tweeted that he had  numerous requests for authorisation for the song to be played on television and radio stations.

At government level, some key ministries are struggling with the optimal utilisation of their social media platforms and basic information availability on their websites. For instance, the Ministry of Education and Sports website has no information related to how the education sector should cope with the pandemic. Instead, a series of tweets were made through the account of the ministry’s head, Janet Museveni, pointing to a PDF which details some measures the ministry is undertaking, none of which make any reference to the use of technology or have any indication of where the suggested educational content could be found online.

Yet some entities have showed how technology is aiding their efforts to combat Covid-19. Among them was a tweet by the  Uganda Revenue Authority (@URAuganda) highlighting how investment in the Regional Cargo Tracking System (RCTS) had helped to intercept a truck driver who tested positive for Covid-19. The system was launched in 2017 to track goods under customs control from point of loading to a final destination within Kenya, Rwanda and Uganda.

Back in 2017, the government launched the Uganda Digital Vision,  a national policy and strategic framework to guide the country’s digital transformation and provide a unified direction for ICT development. With the social media tax undermining access to digital information and services, and key ministries failing to leverage digital technologies in providing critical public services, the Digital Vision does not seem to be delivering well on its promises.

Police Arrest Six Journalists over Report on University

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Police Arrest Six Journalists over Report on University

Police have arrested six journalists at Makerere University who had been invited to cover a story of foreign students who are still locked down at the university reportedly under deplorable conditions.

The journalists are Sanya Emmanuel Mango, Grace Namubiru, and Godwin Kaiza all of Record TV, Muyingo Joseph of Delta TV, Jaliat Namuwaya of Bukedde TV and Muhumuza Edward of NTV.

The journalists got a tip from one of the student leaders in the university that there are some foreign students who are in a bad state without food and efforts to reach out to the university administration to help them failed as they were informed that the university was closed and therefore not responsible. The student leaders decided to call journalists to cover the story to highlight the plight of the students.

“We had gone to interview the students only to be arrested by the Officer in Charge of Makerere University Police Post and later taken to Wandegeya Police Station. Our phones were confiscated before we were whisked away to Wandegeya. Police station,” Sanya told HRNJ-Uganda.

When the Division Police Commander(DPC) of Wandegeya Police Station Odong Samuel was contacted by HRNJ-Uganda, he said “I got information from my OC who had intercepted them as they were covering continuing students who organized a press conference at the university without the knowledge of the administration”

He said that the police cautioned the journalists and asked them to always inform the police authorities when covering such cases.
The journalists who were arrested at about noon were released from the police after about two hours without any charges. Their phones were returned but never allowed to follow up on the story at the University.

HRNJ-Uganda has documented cases of over 20 Journalists who have been attacked in the line of duty since the lockdown imposed by the government as a strategy to curb the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic despite the permission given to journalists to continue working as part of the essential service providers.

“It’s sad that the police went on to arrest this group of journalists in the line of duty with the sole aim of foiling their coverage to highlight the plight of the students. This is not the first time of such actions at the University at the hands of the police. The police must stop interfering with the media covering news from the University. HRNJ-UGANDA will support the victimised journalists to legally take on the implicated security officers,” said the HRNJ-UGANDA Executive Director, Robert Ssempala

Liberian Police seize Journalist’s Phones and Demand Deletion of Live Video

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Liberian Police seize Journalist’s Phones and Demand Deletion of Live Video

Police in Monrovia have seized broadcast equipment belonging to the editor of the local daily and online publisher FrontPage Africa (FPA).

National security forces executing a search and seizure warrant on Tuesday May 12, 2020 forcefully ended journalist Lennart Dodoo’s live video and demanded that he delete the nearly 42 minutes of live stream from the local daily’s Facebook page.

The editor said he refused to delete the video and asked the police to contact his boss, the managing editor of FPA Rodney Sieh, who he said has the power to delete the video.

He explained that his refusal to implement the order from nearly 20 armed security agents angered them and thereby they ordered him to hand over the phone. As he attempted to call his boss for intervention, the police again seized his other phone.

“They seized my two phones and when I asked them why, one of the officers said, they had received instructions from their bosses. I don’t know which bosses they were talking about.”

“I was later made to leave the room in which they were carrying out the ‘search and seizure’,” editor Dodoo said.

The Vice President of the Press Union of Liberia, Daniel Nyankonah, later intervened and complained about the police officers to Liberia’s Inspector General of Police Patrick Sudue who according to Mr. Dodoo said, “I did not instruct any police officer to seize phones.”

After several interventions, the journalist’s phones were returned to him.

The FrontPage Africa Editor described the act as censorship.

“I feel it’s an intimidation, harassment and censorship of the media that must not be accepted. Everyone must condemn this,” said Dodoo.

By noon on Tuesday May 12, 2020 more than 20 armed officers of the Liberia National Police, the National Security Agency and others escorted Mr Menikpakeh Dumoe to his 16th Street residence to effect a “search and seizure” warrant from a court in Monrovia.

The Police had invited him for questioning following a post on Facebook, for which Police spokesman Moses Carter accused him of rallying citizens to take up arms against the government.

Mr Dumoe, a vocal critic of the Weah-led government and Acting Chairman of the political pressure group Council of Patriots, posted on Facebook: “We don’t need free bags of rice, I say we the poor people in Monrovia need AK-47s so our leaders can take us seriously.”

But Dumoe denied any wrong doing and insists that his statement as made was a metaphor that explains the suffering of the Liberian people under ex-soccer legend George Weah as president.

He vowed that he will never encourage anyone to take up arms against the government.

The Police have not made a statement after the “search and seizure it carried out on Mr. Dumoe’s residence”.

Dumoe was later seen handcuffed in the back of a police vehicle and taken back to the headquarters of the Liberia National Police in Central Monrovia.

The Executive Director of the Center for Media Studies and Peacebuilding Malcolm Joseph has categorically condemned the seizure of the mobile phones of journalist Lennart Dodoo.

He called on the Liberia National Police to launch an Immediate investigation and publicly discipline the officers that were directly linked to the harassment and seizure of the journalist’s phones.

Media/Civil Society Groups Demand Action as Study Reveals Poor Attention to Safety of Journalists Covering COVID-19

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Media/Civil Society Groups Demand Action as Study Reveals Poor Attention to Safety of Journalists Covering COVID-19

Journalists covering the Covid-19 pandemic in Nigeria have said they lack sufficient protection and are not adequately catered for.

The journalists disclosed this in a survey conducted by a group of media and civil society groups between April 27 and May 1 this year “to assess the support available to journalists for their safety in covering the COVID-19 pandemic in Nigeria”.

The Wole Soyinka Centre for Investigative Journalism (WSCIJ), Enough is Enough (EiENigeria), International Press Centre (IPC), the International Centre for Investigative Reporting (ICIR), and Premium Times Centre for Investigative Journalism (PTCIJ), commissioned the survey following perceptions that journalists were being exposed to danger in the course of covering the pandemic.

A total of 463 male and female journalists participated in the survey. They included correspondents, reporters, editors, freelancers and presenters from 73 print, broadcast and online media across 33 states and the Federal Capital Territory.

Of the 463 respondents, 65 percent said their employers had not provided them with any support during assignment while only 35 percent said they had been provided with some form of support.

The survey revealed that the topmost needs of journalists covering the Covid-19 pandemic are:

  • Additional monetary allowance separate from salary and payment of outstanding salaries by owing employers;
  • Special Covid-19 coverage insurance package;
  • Specialized training on COVID-19 reporting;
  • Provision of face masks; and
  • Provision of specialized equipment to enable social distancing while on the field.

Concerned about the poor attention to the safety and welfare of journalists covering the pandemic as revealed by the survey, the organizations have called on media owners and managers to:

  • Widen the scope of their support to ensure that reporters on the field are adequately insured and financially empowered while those owing salaries should have them paid;
  • Establish workplace policy and follow the same to equip their journalists with specialized and personal protective equipment including for observation of social distancing while on the field;
  • Provide training to journalists on how to crowd source information for their stories without having to necessarily go to the field; and
  • Explore technological options for interviews while in-house infrastructure should be put in place to ensure the safety of employees and guests (particularly for broadcast media) in line with the safety advisory of the government and health authorities.

They also enjoined freelance journalists to take advantage of reporting grants and other opportunities to procure personal protective equipment while covering the pandemic.

The six organizations also charged media development, civil society groups and other stakeholders to lead campaigns and advocacies for the safety of and support for journalists covering the Covid-19 pandemic.

View/Download the survey

SGD: FOR THE MEDIA/CIVIL SOCIETY GROUPS

Lanre Arogundade

Executive Director, IPC

larogundade[@]ipcng.org

Twitter: @lanreipc

MFWA, National Partners Petition ACHPR Special Rapporteur to secure the release of Beninois Journalist

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MFWA, National Partners Petition ACHPR Special Rapporteur to secure the release of Beninois Journalist

The Media Foundation for West Africa (MFWA) and its 15 National Partner organisations in West Africa have petitioned the Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Access to Information of the African Commission on Human and Peoples Rights (ACHPR), Lawrence Mute, on the imprisonment of Beninois journalist, Ignace Sossou.

Sossou, who works with the online media, Benin Web TV, was sentenced on December 24, 2019 to 18 months in prison on a charge of “harassment by means of electronic communication” and fined CFA Francs 200,000 (about US$ 350) after he posted on Twitter and Facebook, part of a speech made by the country’s public prosecutor, who complained that his words had been taken out of context.

The journalists, has so far served four months of the 18-months sentence and is currently appealing the sentence. On May 3, the MFWA and its national partners sent a petition to Commissioner Mute urging him to intervene in the matter to ensure the release of the journalist.

Commissioner Mute has since acknowledged receipt of the petition.

Kindly click here to read the full petition.

MRA Calls on Nigerian Government to Ensure Safety, Release of Kidnapped Radio Presenter

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MRA Calls on Nigerian Government to Ensure Safety, Release of Kidnapped Radio Presenter

Lagos, Wednesday, May 6, 2020: Media Rights Agenda (MRA) today condemned Monday’s abduction of Ms Chinenye Iwuoha, a presenter with the Pacesetter FM station of the Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria (FRCN) in Umuahia, Abia State, by gunmen and called on the Federal Government and its law enforcement agencies to take urgent action to ensure the safety of the journalist and secure her release.

Ms. Iwuoha was reportedly kidnapped by gunmen at about 7pm on May 4 on her way home from work. She was reported to have been traveling in a vehicle with the station’s general manager and the other employees when they were attacked by the gunmen who then abducted Ms Iwuoha. The gunmen are reported to have later made a ransom demand to the station for the payment of N20 million for the release of the presenter.

In a statement in Lagos, Mr Ayode Longe, MRA’s Director of Programmes, reminded the Federal Government that although it had a duty to ensure the security of all citizens, where media practitioners are concerned, it has a heightened responsibility to protect them as they are performing an essential function in the interest of the society as mandated by the Constitution.

Besides, Mr. Longe said, the Government also has an obligation under international instruments which it has voluntarily acceded to, to provide a safe and conducive environment for journalists and other media workers to carry out their work as well as to ensure their safety.

He noted that there has been a recent upsurge in attacks against journalists and other media workers in Nigeria by public office holders, law enforcement and security agents as well as non-state actors, saying that any failure on the part of the Government to act decisively in the case of Ms Iwuoha would likely embolden other groups and individuals who would thereby be tempted to think that they can get away with such attacks.

Mr. Longe asked the Government to ensure that perpetrators of the attack on Ms Iwouha are apprehended and brought to justice in order to send a strong message to criminal elements in the society as well as other actors who seek to harm journalists as a means of silencing them that there will be no impunity for such acts.

For further information, please contact:

Idowu Adewale
Communications Officer
Media Rights Agenda, Lagos
E-mail: idowu[@]mediarightsagenda.org

Journalist Sacked over Suspected Coronavirus Infection, Another Sacked Over Coronavirus Report

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Journalist Sacked over Suspected Coronavirus Infection, Another Sacked Over Coronavirus Report

Two journalists (from Senegal and Nigeria) have been sacked from their media outlets over coronavirus-related issues.

In Senegal, a journalist with Le Soleil newspaper, Fatou Ly Sall, has been sacked on suspicion of being infected with coronavirus despite a medical report indicating otherwise.

A dismissal letter from her employers, dated March 26, 2020, cited “insubordination, loss of confidence and gross negligence” after being accused of refusing to seek medical attention for suspected COVID-19 infection.

“She arrived at the workplace saying that she has flu; she was coughing and sneezing, which caused panic among her colleagues, who reported the matter to Management, which I lead. Management responded by asking the lady to go to a designated health facility, but she refused to do so,” Mbaye Mbaye, General Manager of Le Soleil, told the BBC.

The journalist, however, insisted that she had seen her personal doctor and a test for the virus proved negative. She told the local media that she had even emailed her medical report to management.

Sall’s lawyer who is threatening a legal suit also maintains that the request for the journalist to go to the designated health facility by herself was contrary to the Ministry of Health’s directives.

“If management suspects someone [of being infected], they have to call the toll free number and the authorities concerned will come and do their job, and if the test proves positive, those who have had contact with the infected person are isolated. But you cannot dismiss the person who refused to violate the instructions of the Ministry of Health,” Amadou Aly Kane told local media.

Meanwhile, Bamba Kasse, President of the journalist’s union, Syndicat des professionnels de l’information et de la communication au Sénégal (SYNPICS), has told the MFWA that his outfit is “in the process of resolving the matter.”

In Nigeria, another journalist has been sacked for not seeking clearance from the State government before reporting about a coronavirus case.

On March 26, 2020, Vincent Ake, General Manager of the state-owned Newspaper Corporation, was summarily dismissed by the Rivers State government after the Tide newspaper, over which he has oversight, broke the story of the first case of COVID-19 in the State.

A statement signed by Paulinus Nsirim, State Commissioner for Information and Communications on March 26, 2020, directed  Ake to hand over to the most senior officer at the Corporation.

Although the reason for Ake’s sack was not indicated in the statement, MFWA’s sources have revealed that, the action was in connection with the Tide’s report on the first case of COVID-19 in the State, which  according to the authorities was done without the approval of the State’s Taskforce on coronavirus.

The MFWA considers the dismissal of Ake as arbitrary and an act of censorship. We therefore call on the authorities in Rivers State to reinstate him.

The  Foundation also  finds the dismissal  of Fatou Ly Sall of Le Soleil newspaper over concerns about her COVID-19 status as unacceptable and urges the management of the media organisation  to reinstate her.

Message from President of West African Journalists Association on the Occasion Of World Press Freedom Day

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Message from President of West African Journalists Association on the Occasion Of World Press Freedom Day

As we observe the World Press Freedom Day 2020, we are facing an unprecedented global health pandemic that seems to overshadow the perennial violations and cowardly attacks journalists suffer on daily basis in the performance of their service to humanity.

Without doubt, the Coronavirus outbreak and spread across the world has added to the anxieties of journalists working in extremely volatile and treacherous environments. The entire world is in a lockdown by the virus that has so far claimed the lives of 280 of our people in the West African sub-region. A few journalists are amongst the over 11,500 cases documented in the region thus far.

In spite of the associated risks, ours is a mandate and challenge to inform our people, even at the peril of our lives. This is why the global theme of this year’s WPFD celebration is mobilizing us to do: “Journalism Without Fear or Favour”. We celebrate the bravery and professionalism of all of our colleagues who have remained true to their calling regardless of the attacks and threats.

Indeed, when politicians are at their usual posturing and feasting on the wounds of ordinary citizens, it is journalists who must come to the rescue of the people. Yes, your insistence on telling the truth and exposing their failings, makes you a target. But that is okay, in so far as the truth is your objective.

While resisting the powerful, journalists must also reject those involved in manipulating public opinion about the spread of the virus. There are those who are drumming all manner of disinformation, conspiracy theories, myths and prophecies about the disease; the media must help our people by giving them facts about the virus on traditional and especially, social media.

During the Ebola outbreak in West Africa, Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone combined, recorded 11,310 deaths, while 14 people died in Nigeria and Mali, bringing the total deaths to 11,324. We are all witnesses to the devastation caused by the disease and the effects it is still having on survivors.

I call on journalists everywhere across the sub-region to work overtime to help avert and limit the impact of Covid-19 on the people by confronting the lies and propaganda being spread. Our people need expert and timely information about the disease in order to fight the virus and stay safe. You can do it.

I also call on our political leaders to stop putting unnecessary roadblocks in the way of journalists who are themselves taking risk for the safely of the population. Pointless restrictions on the press and heavy-handed actions to get citizens obey to lockdown are helping to spread the virus.

In a recent speech on the Covid-19, World Health Organization Director-General, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus demanded unity against the virus. He said “The unity of your country will be very important to defeat this dangerous virus.” Adding, “It exploits the differences you have at the national level. If you want to be exploited and if you want to have many more body bags, then go ahead and politicize it.

My regards to you all and please endeavor to stay safe.

AFEX Condemns Murder of Journalist in Somalia

Vivian
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AFEX Condemns Murder of Journalist in Somalia

The African Freedom of Expression Exchange (AFEX) condemns the murder of journalist Said Yusuf Ali, of privately-owned Kalsan TV in Mogadishu, Somalia.

On May 4, 2020, an unknown man attacked the journalist in a neighborhood in Mogadishu’s Hodan district. According to the Somali Journalists Syndicate (SJS), the armed man stabbed Said Yusuf Ali about four times. Ali reportedly died on the spot.

The director of Kalsan TV Mowlid Mohamed Urur, reported after the incident that that the Ali had earlier on in the day “covered a story on the murder of a school teacher in Afgoye on Monday before he left the TV to his home at 2.pm”.

It is not clear if Ali’s murder was in connection with the last story he covered, however, police have told the media that they have arrested a suspect in connection with the murder are currently holding him at the offices of Criminal Investigation Department.

The killing of Ali adds to the tall list of journalists and media workers who have been killed in the country. Sadly most of the murders have not been resolved.

AFEX is deeply worried about the continuous attacks on journalists in Somalia and calls authorities in the country to ensure that prompt investigations are conducted and justice served. We are also call on the authorities to urgently put in place measures to protect journalists in the country.

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AFEX is a continental network of some of the most prominent African freedom of expression and media rights advocacy organisations that are also members of IFEX, a global free expression network.

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