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AFEX Welcomes Somaliland’s Release of Journalists, Urges Government to End Ongoing Press Freedom Violations

Felicia Anthonio
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0
AFEX Welcomes Somaliland’s Release of Journalists, Urges Government to End Ongoing Press Freedom Violations

The African Freedom of Expression Exchange (AFEX) welcomes the reopening of privately-owned SOMNEWS TV station and the release of a detained journalist and a blogger by the government of Somaliland.

On June 11, 2018, authorities in Somalia’s break-away northwest regions ordered the reopening of SOMNews TV, which was shut down on May 29, after Somaliland Ministry of Information and Public Awareness accused the station, based in the Sool Region, of waging a political campaign against Somaliland and breaching journalistic ethics. However, another station, SBS TV, which was closed down on the same day on similar accusations, remain closed.

On June 19, 2018, President Muse Bihi pardoned Mohamed Kayse, a blogger who was sentenced to 18 months in prison for making critical comments about the president in a Facebook post, alongside journalist Mohamed Adan Dirir, who was also sentenced to 18 months in prison, for criminal defamation charges and publication of false news on October 8, 2017.

These amnesties follow a petition to Somaliland’s President by fifteen prominent freedom of expression organisations in Africa over the increasing spate of press freedom violations in the country. The petition, which was dated June 6, 2018, called on President Bihi to intervene to ensure an end to the repression.

While AFEX welcomes the release of Kayse and Dirir, as well as the reopening of SOMNews TV, as a positive development, we remain concerned about the continued crackdown on freedom of expression rights in Somaliland.

We find the ban of the privately-owned Waaberi newspaper upon the request of the Attorney General, which was granted by a Hargeisa court, very disturbing as it is in flagrant breach of the principles of press freedom, which is guaranteed under the Somaliland constitution, the African Charter and International human rights mechanisms. The June 19 shutdown of Waaberi newspaper, coupled with the continued closure of SBS TV, undermines the recent conciliatory gesture by the president of Somaliland.

AFEX urges president Muse Bihi to order the reopening of SBS TV and Wabeeri newspaper, end the frequent judicial attacks on journalists and media houses and ensure that freedom of expression rights are upheld in the country.

Prominent Rights Groups Call on Somaliland President to Intervene in Deteriorating Freedom of Expression Situation

Felicia Anthonio
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0
Prominent Rights Groups Call on Somaliland President to Intervene in Deteriorating Freedom of Expression Situation

Fifteen leading human rights organisations that seek to promote freedom of expression rights in Africa have called on the President to Somaliland, a self-declared state in Somalia to put an end to the recent crackdown on press freedom rights in the country.

Over the past three months, a total of five journalists were arrested and two privately-owned TV stations were closed down for covering ongoing territorial disputes between Somaliland and Puntland, an autonomous state in Somalia.

In a petition sent to President Muse Bihi Abdi, on June 6, 2018, the petitioners called on the head of state to safeguard the freedom of expression and freedom of assembly rights of journalists and individuals in the country.

Several activists and individuals have also been arrested and detained or even sentenced to prison terms of up to three years for criticising the government on social media platforms.

The petitioners expressed deep concern about the recent attacks against journalists and individuals by Somaliland authorities, which they believed are aimed at silencing criticism, public protests and to suppress dissemination of information about the territorial conflict.

The groups also urged the President to intervene to ensure that citizens’ rights to freedom of expression and human rights are respected by authorities in the country.

Kindly read the full petition delivered to the President of Somaliland below or click here to download:

 

June 6, 2018

H.E. Muse Bihi Abdi

President of the Federal Republic of Somaliland

Office of the President

Hargeisa, Somaliland.

CC : Abdurrahman Abdullahi Farah, Information Minister

Your Excellency,

                                                            Petition

We the undersigned organisations write to express deep concerns about the recent crackdown on freedom of expression and freedom of peaceful assembly rights in Somaliland.

We write to denounce the increasing attacks and harassment on media organisations, journalists, activists and individuals within the last three months.

On June 4, 2018, police arrested Mukhtar Abdi Jama, journalist working with Somnews TV in Las Anod district, Sool region, upon the orders of the regional governor of Somaliland, Abdi Khayre Dirir. Although no official reason was given for Jama’s arrest, our investigations show that his incarceration is as a result of the airing of a press conference held by local leaders in the Taleh district about the conflict in Tukaraq, a disputed area between Puntland and Somaliland.

On May 29, 2018, Somaliland Ministry of Information and Public Awareness banned two privately owned stations, SBS TV and SOM News TV in the Sool region for covering the conflict between Puntland and Somaliland. Authorities accused the two stations of promoting political campaign against Somaliland and breaching journalistic ethics.

A day before the closure of the stations, a journalist working with SBS TV, Mohamed Ahmed Jama Bidhanshe was arrested by security forces. Another reporter, Abdirahman Keyse Tungub, from Bulsho TV covering similar protests was previously arrested on May 27, 2018 by police in the same town (Las Anod). The two journalists were covering territorial dispute between Somalialnd and Puntland, a semi-autonomous region in north-eastern Somalia. Both Bidhanshe and Tungub were released on May 31, 2018 without any charges following the intervention of the Somaliland Journalists Association (SOLJA).

In addition to the above-mentioned attacks, Somaliland police in a related development arrested over 40 protesters during demonstrations in Las Anod. The protesters were demanding the reunification of Somaliland with the Federal government based in Mogadishu.  Sadly, according to media reports, Abdirisak Mohamed Farah, police commander for Somaliland’s Sool region justified the arrests and further threatened to arrest more persons.

“We arrested 47 demonstrators including women and youth who were misled,” Farah said at a news conference in Las Anod.

“There are two reporters in jail for creating chaos. We are looking for others and shall arrest them.”

AFEX finds the police commander’s remarks as a clear attempt by authorities to repress freedom of expression rights of citizens.

According to our sources, four journalists who have been living and working in Las Anod have already fled to Garowe city, capital of Puntland, after they were threatened by Somaliland authorities for “fomenting violence” and “misinforming the public”.

These attacks have serious repercussions on the enjoyment of free speech as this could force journalists and individuals into self-censorship to avoid being harassed.

Other violations we will like to bring to your attention were recorded within April and May this year:

On May 14, 2018 police upon the orders of the regional governor of Sool, Abdi Hayre Dirir, arrested freelance journalist, Adam Jama Oogle aka Habeb following comments he made on Facebook in which he called for the reunification of Somaliland and Somalia. He was released after being held for over a week without charge.

Oogle is not the only person that has suffered attacks from the country’s authorities for exercising his fundamental right to freedom of expression online. In two separate incidents that happened in April 2018, a provincial court in Hargeisa sentenced Naima Ahmed, an activist and poet and Mohamed Kayse, a civilian to three years and 18 months in jail respectively for Facebook comments deemed libelous by the authorities. The prosecutions were carried out under Somalia’s very old penal code.

Naima Ahmed was however granted presidential pardon and released on May 7, 2018 after her family petitioned you, your Excellency.

Mr President, we find it very worrying that citizens risk being sentenced to jail for exercising their fundamental rights to free expression and assembly which is enshrined in the Somaliland’s constitution as well as African and international frameworks

We do note with satisfaction and gratitude that some of the arrested journalists and activists in Somaliland have been freed.  Nonetheless, we believe that no one should go behind bars for exercising their fundamental rights to expression and assembly.

We do recognise their release as proof of your commitment to upholding press freedom, freedom of expression and human rights in Somaliland. We are therefore calling on you to extend a similar gesture of compassion to all journalists, activists and individuals who are being held by security agents in Somaliland for exercising their fundamental rights to freedom of expression and assembly.

We call upon you to also order the reopening of SBS TV and SOM News TV stations. The closure of the two stations and arbitrary arrest of journalists is an affront to free expression and will deprive citizens of their fundamental rights to access information.

We are confident that your office will take note of our concerns and recommendations towards improving the freedom of expression and human rights environment both online and offline in Somaliland.

 

Yours Sincerely,

Signed,

Africa Freedom of Information Centre (AFIC) , Uganda

, South Sudan

Center for Media Studies & Peace Building (CEMESP) , Liberia

Freedom of Expression Institute (FXI) , South Africa

Human Rights Network for Journalists – Uganda (HRNJ-Uganda)

www.humanrightsjournalists.org, Somalia

Nigeria

International Federation of Journalists (IFJ), Belgium

 International Press Centre (IPC), Nigeria

Journaliste en danger (JED), Democratic Republic of Congo

Media Foundation for West Africa (MFWA), Ghana

Media Rights Agenda (MRA), Nigeria

Media Institute of Southern Africa (MISA), Zimbabwe

National Union of Somali Journalists, Somalia

West African Journalists Association (WAJA), Senegal

 

This campaign is led by the African Freedom of Expression Exchange (AFEX), a continental network of the most prominent freedom of expression and media rights organisations in Africa that are also members of the Toronto-based, IFEX, the global network of free expression organisations. The network is currently made up of 13 member organisations based in West, East, Central and Southern Africa. Visit www.africafex.org for more.

 

 

Ugandan Government Taxes Social Media Users, Threat to Internet Rights

Felicia Anthonio
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0
Ugandan Government Taxes Social Media Users, Threat to Internet Rights

The African Freedom of Expression Exchange (AFEX) has learnt with disappointment the passage of the Excise Duty (Amendment) Bill, 2018 which seeks to tax social media as well as mobile money usage in Uganda.

On May 30, 2018, Parliament passed into law the controversial Excise Duty (Amendment) Bill despite strong protests from critics as an attempt to stifle Internet freedom and online expression in the country. The law which will take effect on July 1, 2018 will require users of over-the-top (OTP) platforms such as WhatsApp, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram in Uganda to pay a mandatory daily levy of 200 Ugandan Shillings (about $0.05 cents).

The passage of the law is an enforcement of President Yoweri Museveni’s warnings in April this year that he was going to tax social media usage as such platforms are used to promote ‘gossip” in the country. Similarly, in 2016, the government shut down social media platforms on two occasions during the country’s elections. At the time, President Museveni accused Ugandans of using these networks to “to spread lies.”

AFEX member, Human Rights Network for Journalists in Uganda (HRNJ-U) has condemned the law as an affront to enjoyment of digital rights.

According to Moses Magoola, Programme Manager at HRNJ-U, the underlying objective in the passing of this law is to stifle free expression rights of millions of Ugandans who increasingly depend on online tools to communicate.

“The tax is not coming in place to deliver a service but to control and deter people from expressing themselves especially on civic and political matters,” Magoola said. “The measure is to disable citizen mobilization and communication on matters of national importance.”

 While the Museveni-led government argues that the new taxes on social media usage will generate revenue for the Pearl of Africa nation, AFEX believes it is a systematic attempt of censoring numerous Ugandans who may not be able to afford the new daily levy. With the new regulation, Ugandans will spend about USD 1.5 a month in accessing these platforms. Thus, the law will further widen the digital gap that exists in Uganda. Only 31% of Uganda’s over 44 million populations have access to the internet as at 2017.

The adoption of this law is a breach of Uganda’s obligations under national, regional and international standards and frameworks to uphold freedom of expression. Comparatively, Ugandan is the only country that seems to have passed such a legislation which sets a negative precedent for other countries on the continent.

AFEX reiterates the essential role of the Internet and social media platforms in advancing freedom of expression and participatory governance globally. It is therefore sad to see the government of Uganda putting in place measures to restrict more Ugandans from coming online.

We call on President Museveni to withdraw the taxes and rather consider investing in the sector to ensure that all Ugandans have access to affordable, reliable and open Internet.

Ugandan Government Taxes Social Media Users, Threat to Internet Rights

Felicia Anthonio
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0

The African Freedom of Expression Exchange (AFEX) has learnt with disappointment the passage of the Excise Duty (Amendment) Bill, 2018 which seeks to tax social media as well as mobile money usage in Uganda.

On May 30, 2018, Parliament passed into law the controversial Excise Duty (Amendment) Bill despite strong protests from critics as an attempt to stifle Internet freedom and online expression in the country. The law which will take effect on July 1, 2018 will require users of over-the-top (OTP) platforms such as WhatsApp, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram in Uganda to pay a mandatory daily levy of 200 Ugandan Shillings (about $0.05 cents).

The passage of the law is an enforcement of President Yoweri Museveni’s warnings in April this year that he was going to tax social media usage as such platforms are used to promote ‘gossip” in the country. Similarly, in 2016, the government shut down social media platforms on two occasions during the country’s elections. At the time, President Museveni accused Ugandans of using these networks to “to spread lies.”

AFEX member, Human Rights Network for Journalists in Uganda (HRNJ-U) has condemned the law as an affront to enjoyment of digital rights.

According to Moses Magoola, Programme Manager at HRNJ-U, the underlying objective in the passing of this law is to stifle free expression rights of millions of Ugandans who increasingly depend on online tools to communicate.

“The tax is not coming in place to deliver a service but to control and deter people from expressing themselves especially on civic and political matters,” Magoola said. “The measure is to disable citizen mobilization and communication on matters of national importance.”

 While the Museveni-led government argues that the new taxes on social media usage will generate revenue for the Pearl of Africa nation, AFEX believes it is a systematic attempt of censoring numerous Ugandans who may not be able to afford the new daily levy. With the new regulation, Ugandans will spend about USD 1.5 a month in accessing these platforms. Thus, the law will further widen the digital gap that exists in Uganda. Only 31% of Uganda’s over 44 million populations have access to the internet as at 2017.

The adoption of this law is a breach of Uganda’s obligations under national, regional and international standards and frameworks to uphold freedom of expression. Comparatively, Ugandan is the only country that seems to have passed such a legislation which sets a negative precedent for other countries on the continent.

AFEX reiterates the essential role of the Internet and social media platforms in advancing freedom of expression and participatory governance globally. It is therefore sad to see the government of Uganda putting in place measures to restrict more Ugandans from coming online.

We call on President Museveni to withdraw the taxes and rather consider investing in the sector to ensure that all Ugandans have access to affordable, reliable and open Internet.

Minister Assaults NewsDay Journalist

Felicia Anthonio
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0

This statement was originally published on zimbabwe.misa.org on May 26, 2018.

Senior journalist with the NewsDay, Blessed Mhlanga was verbally assaulted by deputy minister of Finance and Member of Parliament (MP), Terrence Mukupe. The assault took place on the evening of 24 May during a live broadcast of Focus, a current affairs programme aired on SFM, a local radio station. Mhlanga and Mukupe were in the studio to discuss a story published in the NewsDay on the 23rd of May. In that story, the newspaper quoted the deputy minister as having said that members of the military would not recognise Chamisa as President if he were to win the upcoming general elections. This story was based on a video recording of the deputy minister speaking at a Zanu PF cell meeting held in Mandara, Harare earlier this week.

The heated discussion resulted in Mukupe allegedly verbally assaulting the NewsDay scribe and at the same time standing up in an attempt to assault him physically. At that point, Mrs Mhlanga who had accompanied her husband to the studio began to record the unfolding events on her mobile phone. This allegedly further angered the deputy minister who ordered his two aides to seize Mrs Mhlanga’s cell phone; it was during this tussle that Mrs Mhlanga was physically assaulted and her jacket torn.

Mhlanga proceeded to report the matter at Highlands Police Station and a docket numbered RRB 35337572 was opened. The deputy minister also filed a police report of assault against the couple.

MISA Zimbabwe Position

The assault of the journalists is of grave concern more so when this violence is instigated by public officials such as the deputy minister. MISA Zimbabwe condemns the alleged assault with the contempt it deserves. These wanton assaults cannot be allowed to continue with impunity as they undermine the constitutional role of the media in entrenching democracy through performing its normative forth estate role.

We implore the President, government and other state security agents to ensure the safety and security of journalists conducting their lawful professional duties. As Zimbabwe heads towards national elections, it is imperative for journalists to be able to carry out their work without fear of assault at the hands of public officials. Even during election season, media freedoms enshrined in Section 61(2) of the Constitution still stand.  We have said it before and will repeat it now, journalism is not a crime.

//END

AFEX Denounces Increased Attacks on Online Expression in Somaliland

Felicia Anthonio
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0
AFEX Denounces Increased Attacks on Online Expression in Somaliland

Authorities in Somaliland should refrain from harassing journalists and individuals for exercising their fundamental rights to freedom of expression online. The African Freedom of Expression Exchange (AFEX) deplores the arbitrary arrest and detention of local journalist, Adam Jama Oogle aka Habeb.

According to AFEX member in Somalia, the National Union of Somali Journalists (NUSOJ), police on May 14, 2018, arrested Oogle from his home based in Las Anod, the administrative capital of the Sool region in Somaliland. The journalist was arrested upon the orders of regional governor of Sool, Abdi Hayre Dirir after he made comments on Facebook in which he indicated that the people were in support of Somaliland’s unity with Somalia. These comments obviously infuriated the officials the region.

NUSOJ also indicated in a statement published today (May 16, 2018) that the regional administration in Sool reportedly demanded that Oogle’s family signs a bond that the journalist will not publish such post again.  However, the family refused as it would lead to self-censoring the journalist.

AFEX deplores the persecuting of journalists and citizens for exercising their legitimate right to freedom of expression online as unacceptable and a deliberate attempt by authorities in Somaliland to silence dissent.

The Internet and social media platforms have become essential as they have given true meaning to the millions of people in Africa to “seek, receive and impart information and ideas of all kinds regardless of frontiers,” as intended by the framers of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR). We there call on Somaliland authorities to ensure that citizens’ rights to freedom of speech are protected both offline and online.

AFEX joins NUSOJ to demand the unconditional release of Adam Jama Oogle. We also continue to denounce the increasing incidents of attacks on journalists, human rights activists and individuals by authorities in Somaliland.

Update: Jailed Somaliland Poet and Activist Granted Presidential Pardon

Felicia Anthonio
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0
Update: Jailed Somaliland Poet and Activist Granted Presidential Pardon

Somaliland president, Muse Bihi has ordered the release of Naima Ahmed, a young poet and activist who was sentenced to three years in prison.

According to local media, Naima Ahmed was granted presidential pardon after her family petitioned president Bihi for amnesty. She was released from Gabiley prison on May 7, 2018, where she served 23 days of her 3-year sentence.

Local human rights outfit, Human Rights Journalists (HRJ) in a statement issued on the same day welcomed the release of the young poet by the Somaliland authorities.

Last month, authorities in Somaliland sentenced Ahmed to three years in jail for publicly proclaiming that Somaliland was a part of the Republic of Somalia. The court found her statements “insulting and defamatory against the state.” Somaliland is a self-declared independent state in the Republic of Somalia. Naima was arrested at Hargeisa Airport on January 27, 2018 upon her return from Mogadishu. She was remanded into custody until April 15, 2018 when she was sentenced. She served 23 days of her 3-year sentence.

While the African Freedom of Expression Exchange (AFEX) joins HRJ to welcome the release of the young activist, we want to use this medium to reiterate that there is an urgent need for authorities in Somaliland to safeguard freedom of expression rights of citizens. It is unfortunate that citizens risk being sentenced to jail for exercising their fundamental rights to free express which is enshrined in the country’s constitution as well as regional and international frameworks.

Freedom of speech has been under attack in Somaliland recently. Authorities continue to use its penal code to repress free speech in the country. Within the last one month, authorities in Somaliland sentenced three persons on defamation/libel charges.

On April 16, 2018, Mohamed Kayse to 18 months in jail for a Facebook post in which he described the president Somaliland as “a local president.” Similarly, exactly 10 days later , on April 26, a court in Hargeisa  sentenced a clan chief, Boqor Osman Buur Madow to five years in prison for utterances authorities claimed defied the independence of Somaliland. Both Mohamed and Boqor Osman remain in custody.

Clearly all these cases involve citizens legitimately expressing harmless opinions about public matters. Their incarceration for exercising this democratic right therefore amounts to a crackdown on press freedom rights.

AFEX reitirates its appeal to Somaliland’s authorities to protect and respect the freedom of expression rights of its citizenry by releasing Mohamed and Boqor as a sign of their commitments to upholding the democratic principles of the country.

We also call on authorities to repeal the outdated penal code which is increasingly used to harass and intimidate journalists, activists and individuals in the country.

Violation of Freedom of Expression Rights: Somaliland Jails Activist, Citizen

Felicia Anthonio
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0
Violation of Freedom of Expression Rights: Somaliland Jails Activist, Citizen

A provincial court in Hargeisa, a city in Somaliland, Somalia’s self-declared republic has sentenced an activist and a civilian to three years and 18 months in jail  respectively for comments deemed libelous by authorities.

Human Rights Journalists (HRJ), a local organisation in Somalia reported that Naima Ahmed, a young poet and activist was sentenced to three years in prison for publicly proclaiming that Somaliland is part of the Republic of Somalia. Authorities found her statements “insulting and defamatory against the state.” Naima was arrested at Hargeisa Airport on January 27, 2018 upon her return from Mogadishu. She was remanded into custody until April 15, 2018 when she was sentenced. .

Similarly, the court on April 16, 2018 sentenced Mohamed Kayse to 18 months in prison for libel. The presiding judge accused Kayse of offending the honour of Somaliland president, Musse Bihi in a Facebook post in which he described the president as “a local president” while indeed he is a “national president.” Kayse was arrested on February 8, 2017.

The sentencing of Kayse and Ahmed for exercising their fundamental rights to freedom of expression that is guaranteed in the Somaliland constitution is worrying.

The Human Rights Journalists (HRJ) in a statement issued on April 16, 2018 condemned both sentences as a threat to press freedom.

“The rulings made by Hargeisa court yesterday and today is a disturbing setback for Somaliland’s hard-won freedom of expression,” said HRJ Chairman Ismail Sheikh Khalifa. “This guilty verdict sends the wrong message to people of Somaliland. The right to freedom of expression and press freedom are enshrined in Somaliland constitution, so people should never be jailed for their opinions.”

AFEX expresses concern over the continued restriction limiting of press freedom space in  Somaliland and call on authorities in the country to uphold press freedom rights of citizens both offline and online. Condemning citizens to prison for expressing their opinions has serious implications for citizens’ freedom of expression rights and for democracy.

AFEX joins HRJ to denounce the sentencing of Kayse and Ahmed. We urge the court to overturn the judgement to enable these young persons to contribute to public intellectual discourse on issues affecting their country and themselves.

Tanzania’s Newly Adopted Electronic and Postal Communication Code is Retrogressive and an Affront to Free Speech – AFEX

Felicia Anthonio
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0
Tanzania’s Newly Adopted Electronic and Postal Communication Code is Retrogressive and an Affront to Free Speech – AFEX

Despite several calls by civil society and international bodies urging the government of Tanzania to revise or withdraw portions its Electronic and Postal Communications (Online Content) Regulations 2017, the Minister of Information, Culture, Arts and Sports, on March 13, 2018, signed the law. This Regulation outlines conditions regarding usage of new media and dealing with online content in a way that is retrogressive and repressive of press freedom.

Sections of the law are vaguely worded and subjective thus they are likely to be abused by authorities in the country. Some of the definitions in the preliminary provisions have words or expressions that are not clearly defined. For example, “indecent content” is defined as any content that is offensive, morally improper and against current standards of accepted behaviour, such as nudity and sex. Additionally, “obscene content” refers to any content which gives rise to a feeling of disgust by reason of lewd portrayal and is essentially offensive to one’s prevailing notion of decency and modesty, with a possibility of having a negative influence and corrupting the mind of those easily influenced.

The African Freedom of Expression Exchange (AFEX) is seriously concerned about the adoption of this law as these definitions among other provisions are vague and could result in a deliberate attempt by authorities to witch hunt critics and silence dissenting voices in the country.

The Electronic and Postal Communications (Online Content) Regulation also grants extensive powers to the Tanzanian Communications Regulatory Authority (TCRA) to control freedom of expression rights of Tanzanians online. For instance, Part II section 4 (a) of the Electronic and Postal Communications Act allows the TCRA “to keep a register of bloggers, online forums, online radio and online television”; while this could be a mechanism by the government to have a database of online users, this can also be used as a tool to harass and persecute users who are critical of the government.  Section 4 (b) of the same law empowers the Communications regulator to order removal of “prohibited content.”

The law also allows the Regulatory body to filter and identify the sources of information posted online. Persons who contravene the provisions in these regulations are liable to a fine of not less than five million Tanzanian shillings (USD2,200) or to imprisonment for a term of not less than 12 months or to both.

Online content publishers (bloggers, videos etc.) are expected to pay an application fees of TZS 100,000 (USD $44.00), pay an initial licence fees of TZS 1,000,000 (USD $439.7) and an annual licence fees of TZS 1,000,000 (USD $439.7). Asking ordinary citizens to pay a total amount of $923 to run a personal blog in Tanzania is a calculated attempt by the government to repress any form of discourse or criticism from the general public.

If these laws are implemented in their current state, they will seriously undermine freedom of expression online and prevent Tanzanians from fully benefiting from the opportunities the Internet and social media platforms present. The Internet and social media platforms have allowed citizens and organisations to participate in public discourse easily. Bloggers and journalists continue to rely on the internet in order to highlight their works and findings. Therefore, an attempt by the government of Tanzania to monitor and control all activities on the Internet is unacceptable as it can lead to wide spread self-censorship online.

The African Freedom of Expression Exchange (AFEX) is disappointed with the government Tanzania for passing into law such a repressive legislation with clear provisions that could further tighten the country’s already restrictive freedom of expression environment both online and offline.  We appeal to the government to take into account the concerns raised by local and international rights groups and revise the portions of the law that are an affront to free speech.

Click here to read or access Tanzania’s Electronic and Postal Communications (Online Content) Regulation 2017.

MISA launches JournoSOS application

Felicia Anthonio
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MISA launches JournoSOS application

This statement is originally published on zimbabwe.misa.org on April 13, 2018.

MISA Zimbabwe on 13 April 2018 launched its JournoSOS App, a mobile application aimed at enhancing the media freedom lobby organisation’s work in promoting the safety of journalists and media practioners.

The application, which was launched at a breakfast meeting in Harare,  is currently available for devices running on the Android platform.

The event was graced by Police National Spokesperson, Senior Assistant Commissioner Charity Charamba and Honourable MP James Maridadi who sits on the Parliamentary Portfolio Committee for Media, Information and Communication Technology and Cybersecurity.

The application is aimed at facilitating the accurate and informed collection of data on various violations experienced by media practitioners in the country. Media practitioners can use the facility by sending records of violations such as Assault, Censorship, Detention, Expulsion and Threats, whenever they occur.

This application also comes with a Call Me Back feature,  which media practitioners can dial when the media violation is of a nature not covered by either of the pre-listed violations.

The Call Me Back feature is linked to MISA Zimbabwe’s  hotline number:  078 443 7338.  These facilities fall under MISA Zimbabwe’s  Media Defence Fund which is there to foster and promote a safe working space for journalists in Zimbabwe.

Once a media practitioner in distress sends a notification of a specific violation, MISA Zimbabwe  will follow this up to verify whether it is a legitimate report or a false alarm. It is important to note that a number of media practitioners working in Zimbabwe are not registered  with MISA Zimbabwe  or any other professional body.

It was therefore, necessary for MISA to open registration for use of the application to people who are not on its membership list. The verification process is essential to ensure that the facility  is not abused or spammed with illegitimate reports on media violations.

This is the first phase of a two-phase project which will culminate in the production and release of a Panic Button App, which is more convenient in times of danger.

Meanwhile, Senior Assistant Commissioner Charity Charamba, said the police are also being trained on how to interact with media practitioners, especially as we head into the 2018 elections. These initiatives were aimed at improving relations between the two parties, which she likened to that of “fish and water”.

Honorable Maridadi, who officially launched the application, urged the media to be ethical and fair in their reportage especially where it pertains to stories that have the potential of damaging one’s esteem and dignity.

MISA Zimbabwe Vice Chairperson, Rutendo Mawere, said professional interactions with the police were beginning to yield the desired fruits.

“Allow me to extend our great appreciation to Senior Assistant Commissioner Charity Charamba and indeed, the Zimbabwe Republic Police, for their support and co-operation as we work towards securing a safe environment for journalists and media practitioners,” said Mawere.

She said the interactions which followed meetings held with the police in September 2016 and December 2017, had seen the decline in the number of cases involving the assault of journalists while on duty.

Mawere urged the media to be professional at all times, saying this responsibility was even more critical during election time.

“On the other hand, the government should prioritise the implementation of envisaged media reforms ahead of the 2018 elections. This is critical in underpinning the right to media freedom, freedom of expression and the citizens’ right to make informed decisions and choices during the forthcoming elections,” she said.

Mauritania Continues Crackdown on Anti-Slavery Journalism and Activism

Felicia Anthonio
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0
Mauritania Continues Crackdown on Anti-Slavery Journalism and Activism

This statement was originally published on www.mfwa.org on April 5, 2018.

The authorities in Mauritania have detained and expelled a French-Moroccan photojournalist who was conducting research on slavery.

Seif Kousmate was arrested on March 20, 2018 while he was about to cross the border into Senegal where he was scheduled to take a flight to Morocco.

The photojournalist was detained at the police headquarters in the capital, Nouakchott for three days before being deported to Morroco. The authorities seized his laptop and mobile phone and subjected him to intense interrogation.

He was questioned on many issues including his alleged links with one Biram Dah Abeid, an opposition figure and leader of the anti-slavery movement Initiative pour la Résurgence du Mouvement Abolitionniste.

Although the seized equipment was returned, Kousmate reported that several memory cards containing photos he had taken for his research were withheld.

This recent incident adds to several reported cases of authorities in Mauritania cracking down on anti-slavery advocates and human rights defenders. Although Mauritania officially abolished slavery in 1981 and criminalised it in 2007, modern-day slavery is still practiced and widespread in the country. In 2015,  the government passed a law that increased prison terms for practicing slavery. Also after their Universal Periodic Review in 2015, the state accepted recommendations to promote human rights and increase awareness on the prohibition of slavery. However, there has been very little practical commitment to fulfilling this as there has been more crackdown on anti-slavery activists than the slavery menace itself. In 2016, the state jailed 13 anti-slavery activists under questionable charges.

In May 2017, the authorities expelled a French freelance journalist, Tiphaine Gosse and Marie Foray a human lawyer, on accusation of “working with organisations that are not recognised by the state” – Initiative pour la Résurgence du Mouvement Abolitionniste.

Three months after that, authorities prevented twelve anti-slavery activists from entering the country.

The MFWA is disappointed at the arrest and expulsion of Seif Kousmate and the crackdown on many others who attempt to report on slavery in Mauritania. We would have expected that the Mauritanian government which says it is fighting slavery, will welcome and collaborate with journalists and human rights defenders. We urge the authorities to recognise the important contribution of these two groups in the fight against  slavery in the country.

Chad Plunged into Social Media Blackout: No Government Explanation Forthcoming

Felicia Anthonio
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Chad Plunged into Social Media Blackout: No Government Explanation Forthcoming

Internet users in Chad have been denied access to social media platforms such as Facebook and WhatsApp. The government and service providers have given no reason for the restriction.

The African Freedom of Expression Exchange (AFEX) sources in Chad indicate that Facebook and WhatsApp have been inaccessible via Airtel and Tigo, the two major mobile operators in the country since March 28, 2018.

Our sources have also added that the social media blackout has affected several parts of the country and some people are resorting to the use of virtual private network (VPNs) to access these platforms.

The Managing Director of Airtel Chad, Djibril Tobe did not respond to AFEX’s mail requesting details why these platforms were inaccessible via his network.

However, according to media reports, the two mobile service operators (Airtel and Tigo) said the disruption is as a result of a technical problem. A BBC source has also indicated that authorities in the country ordered mobile service providers to disrupt certain applications and the internet service.

AFEX is seriously concerned about the use of network disruptions to curtail freedom of expression and access to information rights of the Chadian people. This is the second time the Internet and social media platforms have been disrupted this year by the state. Chadian authorities shut down the Internet in January 2018 ahead of scheduled demonstrations backed by civil society groups and trade unions in the country.

Prior to the above mentioned incidents, the Chadian government also shut down the Internet in April 2016 during presidential elections. No official explanation was given.

AFEX appeals to the government of Chad to safeguard online rights of citizens at all times as provided for by Article 27 of its national Constitution and provisions of other regional frameworks to which Chad is signatory . We also call upon the mobile operators in Chad to restore the social media platforms and Internet services to enable citizens continue with their day-to-day online activities.

 

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