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Photo Journalist Attacked in Nigeria

Felicia Anthonio
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This statement was originally published onon September 5, 2017.

A Benin-based freelance photo journalists, Mr. Lucky Agie, was on Monday night attacked by suspected armed robbers, on his way home from work.

According to ‘The News’ which broke the story on Tuesday September 5, 2017, Mr Agie was attacked when he boarded a taxi along Akpakpava Road in Benin City, the Edo State capital, and was beaten and thrown out of the vehicle into a valley, after being dispossessed of his belongings including his camera worth over N400,000, ATM card, identity cards and cash.
He was however rescued by a good Nigerian and taken to a private hospital, where he is currently recuperating.

Agie who recently retired from Edo State-owned Nigerian Observer newspaper, is reeling in pains on his hospital bed and is heavily bandaged on his right eye and stitched head with a swollen face.

He narated his ordeal to journalists at the private hospital: “I watched the first half of the Cameroun-Nigeria football match at the NUJ Press Centre and wanted to go home. I tried to start my car, but it could not, even after colleagues helped me to push.

“I now decided to go by public transport and I was dropped off at Akpakpava where I entered a taxi [can], an Audi 80 painted in the State colours. Some passengers were inside, including a lady and that gave me the courage to enter because I am always wary, not knowing that the lady was part of the gang.

“I told him I was going to Ewa Road junction. I immediately paid the driver when I entered and he said he doesn’t have change. One of the passengers behind gave him N100 and he added N50 which he gave to me as my change.

“Just by Second Junction, near Total Filling Station, one of the passengers alighted and another entered who now sat with me in the front seat and immediately the driver drove off, they started beating me and hitting me with objects that injured my head and my eyes. They even tried to strangulate me with my shirt which they tore.

“They took my D-90 camera, my atm card, my NUJ ID card, my official ID card and everything I had on me. They asked my atm pin which I gave them but they continued beating me and said they were going to throw me into the Ikpobha River.

“They continued beating me and I was losing strength and blood until they got to Ikkpobha Hill after the bridge, where I was pushed into the valley and continued beating me and then left me almost unconscious as I faintly heard one of them saying let’s finish him.

“After they drove off, I was able to struggle out of the valley and tried to waive passersby  until a good Nigerian came and took me in his taxi to this hospital.

“I was only able to remember my elder brother’s number who is based in Abuja. I called him and he reached my people in Benin who came to me,” Agie narrated. He added that he has instructed his younger brother to report the case to the police station.

The alarming level of insecurity in Edo State has continued to create worries for the people of the State.

The Chairman of Edo State Council of NUJ, Sir Roland Osakue, who led members of the Council to visit their colleague at the hospital, called on security agencies to check the spate of robberies and killings in the State, adding that attacks on journalists is becoming alarming.

It would be recalled that just few weeks ago, a journalist with NTA in Benin, Lawrence Okojie, was shot dead by gunmen, few metres from his house, after close of work.

Also, many journalists have been robbed and some escaped by the whiskers, in various parts of the State capital, like Ekenwan Road, Airport Road, Oluku and others areas.

MRA Names Customs into its FOI ‘Hall of Shame’ for Non-Compliance with the FOI Act

Felicia Anthonio
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This statement was originally published on mediarightsagenda.net on September 5, 2017.

Media Rights Agenda (MRA) today named the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) into its Freedom of Information (FOI) Hall of Shame, saying its long-held reputation as one of the most corrupt government institutions in Nigeria has only been worsened by its refusal to comply with the Freedom of Information Act, 2011.

Announcing the selection of the NCS as this week’s inductee into the Hall of Shame, MRA’s Director of Programmes, Mr. Ayode Longe, noted that since the passage of the FOI Act over six years ago, the Customs had failed to comply with virtually all its duties and obligations under the Law, thereby undermining its effectiveness.

Mr. Longe said: “It is our respectful view that an agency like the NCS, which collects huge sums of money in import and excise duties as well as other taxes and levies from Nigerians, should have no discretion on whether to be transparent and accountable in all its operations.  The duty to be transparent and accountable flows naturally from the nature of the institution and its functions.  When this duty is further imposed by Law, as the FOI Act does, any breach of that duty should be viewed with seriousness and visited with harsh sanctions.”

According to him, “It is a viable proposition that a government agency which is persistently in flagrant violation of its duty to be transparent and accountable to citizens has no right to expect the same citizens to fulfill their duties to the institution and robs itself of the legal or moral authority to enforce compliance on the citizens while it is in continued breach of its own duties to them. Such an institution, in this case, the Nigeria Customs Service, is only sowing the seeds of anarchy which will ultimately lead to its demise in the event of a citizens’ revolt.”

Justifying the choice of the NCS for induction into the FOI Hall of Shame, MRA noted that by virtue of Section 2 of the FOI Act, the agency, like every other public institution to which the Act applies, is required to proactively disclose certain types of information even in the absence of specific requests for the information from the public and to continually update and review such information periodically and immediately whenever changes occur.

It accused the NCS of shying away from complying with this statutory obligation, which is one of the most efficient ways of providing information to citizens, of being transparent and accountable for the revenues it collects as well as in its entire operations.

MRA also observed  that Section 29 of the Act places an obligation on the Customs, like other public institutions, to submit an annual FOI implementation report to the Attorney-General of the Federation, adding that since the Act was passed into Law till date, the NCS has not submitted any FOI implementation report to the Attorney-General of the Federation.

It also accused the NCS of failing to comply with Section 2(3) (f) of the Act which requires the agency to designate an appropriate officer to whom applications for information under the Act should be sent and to proactively publish the title and address of the officer.

According to the civil society organization, despite the provisions of Section 13 of the Law, there is no indication that the NCS has provided the required training for its officials on the public’s right of access to information at any time in the last six years.

MRA said it was also unable to determine how responsive the NCS has been to requests for information from members of the public because of its failure to submit its annual reports to the Attorney-General of the Federation, which would have provided the relevant information about the number of applications for information that it has received annually over the last six years and the number of such applications that it processed and granted or refused, alongside other details that it is required by the Act to provide in its report to the Federal Attorney-General.

Citing reports indicating high levels of corruption in the NCS, especially alleged corrupt transactions at seaports, airports and land borders, Mr. Longe  argued that the FOI Act is a tool that facilitates openness and transparency in government, adding: “The openness and transparency that Nigeria desires as a country can only be realized through the effective implementation of the FOI Act and total compliance with its provisions, which in turn can help to check the high level of bribery and corruption prevalent in an agency like the Nigeria Customs Service.”

According to him, a National Corruption Survey report published by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) recently indicates that Customs officers are among Nigeria’s top bribe takers.

Mr. Longe argued that this should be a source of concern to the authorities within the Customs and the Nigerian Government in general, noting that rather than make every effort to redress its tarnished image and reputation, the management of the NCS are worsening the situation by their deliberate refusal to obey the Laws of the Land, particularly the FOI Act.

He said: “despite the pledge by the Comptroller-General of Customs, Col. Hammeed Ali (Rtd), upon assumption of office that the agency will not compromise on corruption and indiscipline among the officers corps, the ailment called corruption remains ubiquitous in the Customs.”

Media Rights Agenda launched the Freedom of Information Hall of Shame on July 3 to draw attention to public officials and institutions that are undermining the effectiveness of the Freedom of information Act, 2011 through their actions or inactions, decisions or utterances.

Media Rights Group in South Sudan Condemns Killing of US Freelance Journalist, Pays Tribute to Family

Felicia Anthonio
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Media Rights Group in South Sudan Condemns Killing of US Freelance Journalist, Pays Tribute to Family

This statement was originally published by amdiss on August 29, 2017.

The Association for Media Development in South Sudan (AMDISS) would like to extend its profound condolence to the family of the slain freelance journalist Christopher Allen who died in Kaya South Sudan on August 26th 2017 while doing his journalistic work reporting for the events of the fighting between South Sudan government forces and the opposition that unfolded in the South Sudan – Uganda border.

Christopher Allen, a US citizen has been known in record for reporting as a freelance journalist for international media including The Independent newspaper, The Telegraph and the Qatar-based Aljazeera.

AMDISS the killing of journalists and hereby advices media houses and journalists working in South Sudan to stay safe while carrying out their duties.

##END##

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AMDISS is a member based organization of the local media in South Sudan, formed in 2003 to work towards promoting an enabling environment for media development in South Sudan through advocacy at different levels of government and dialogue with government ministries, departments, including security agencies and providing media training to enhance the quality of reporting and professionalism in the industry and in South Sudan.

Access to Facebook and WhatsApp Blocked in Togo

Felicia Anthonio
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Access to Facebook and WhatsApp Blocked in Togo

This statement was originally published on mfwa.org on September 6, 2017.

Reports from Togo say social media has been disrupted in the country since September 5, 2017. WhatsApp and Facebook are completely inaccessible while internet speed has reduced to near stoppage.

“3G service has been disrupted since yesterday; Facebook and WhatsApp are not accessible on 3G mobile applications”, reported Bonaventure N’Coue Mawuvi, President of l’Institut des Medias pour la Democratie et les Droits de l’Homme, (IM2DH), a media development and human rights organization based in Lome.

Mawuvi said “internet connection via cable has also been disrupted this morning [September 6].”

The disruptions come as the Togolese opposition coalition embarks on demonstrations across the country today (September 6) to demand political reforms including the reinstatement of term limits. The demonstrators are also demanding justice for the victims of police brutality during an earlier demonstration.

The reported shutdown is thought be an attempt by the authorities to prevent effective mobilisation for the demonstrations through the power of social media

The phenomenon of internet shutdowns during important national events like elections and demonstrations is gaining grounds in the sub-region. On the eve of the general elections in The Gambia in December 2016, the internet was shut down in that country. On June 14, 2017, Facebook and Twitter were disrupted in Mali ahead of a planned opposition protest against proposed constitutional reforms.

Given the indispensable role of the internet as an enabler of other freedoms in spheres ranging from education to business, agriculture, health and socialization, its disruption is major abuse of citizens’ rights. The MFWA therefore appeals to the authorities in Togo to move quickly to restore the network.

Massive crackdown on Ghana’s Radio Industry: 34 Stations Shut down, 97 Others Face Heavy Fines

Felicia Anthonio
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Massive crackdown on Ghana’s Radio Industry: 34 Stations Shut down, 97 Others Face Heavy Fines

This statement was originally published on mfwa.org on September 29, 2017.

Thirty-four FM broadcasting stations have been shut down by the National Communications Authority (NCA), the Communications regulator and radio frequency licensing body in Ghana.

A statement released by the NCA on September 28, 2017 said the authorisations of the stations involved had expired over several years, but they had failed to apply for renewal 3 months before expiry of existing Authorisation as required by law. Moreover, some of them failed to respond to a notice the NCA sent to them earlier this year to regularise their operations.

The statement said while others responded to the regulator’s notice to regularise their operations, their request for an extension was declined.

A total of 131 FM Authorisation Holders have been affected by the NCA clampdown which is being carried out in enforcement of Section 13 of the Electronics Communications Act (2009), Act 775.

These include very popular stations like Montie FM, a station aligned to the main opposition party, the National democratic Congress (NDC), Hello FM and Kapital Radio.

The regulator has also imposed fines on a number of stations ranging from GHC50,000 (US$11,000) to GHC61,000,000 (US$13.8 million) depending on the infraction and the duration the infraction persisted.

Eleven radio stations have been requested to pay application fees for renewal of Authorisation and to pay a fine in accordance with the NCA’s gazetted Schedule of Penalties for failure to apply 3 months before expiry of Authorisation within 30 days. 16 radio stations have been asked to submit renewal application, pay application fees and pay a fine within 30 days.

It would be recalled that the Minister of Communications, Ursula Owusu-Ekuful on July 6, 2017 hinted that the government was considering taking action against radio stations that are in breach of their licensing obligations.

“Much as the NCA recognises the key role the radio stations play in the socio‐economic life of the country, dissemination of information, employment and investment opportunities it creates, it is important that players within that space adhere to the regulatory requirements and conditions of their Authorisations,” the statement said.

The MFWA is concerned about this development, as it denies a section of the population their source of information. We find it a sad irony for radio stations to suffer such a fate on 28 September, a day set aside to highlight the importance of universal access to information. We therefore urge the NCA and the Management of the stations involved to dialogue in order to find an amicable settlement to the issue.

Cameroon Crises: President Orders Release of Journalists, Consortium Leaders and Others

Felicia Anthonio
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Cameroon Crises: President Orders Release of Journalists, Consortium Leaders and Others

The President of the Republic of Cameroon, Paul Biya, has ordered the Military Court in Yaoundé to drop charges against four journalists and two leaders of the Cameroon Anglophone Civil Society Consortium (CACSC).

Dr. Nkongho Felix Agbor-Balla, President of CACSC and Dr. Fontem A. Neba, Secretary General of CACSC were arrested on January 17, 2017 after government banned activities of the CACSC which was set up by some eminent persons in North-west and South-west Cameroon to dialogue with the government about the Anglophone crises.

Four journalists who were also among those arrested for reporting on the crises were also released. They are Hans Achumba a journalist working with Jakiri Community Radio and Mofor Ndong, publisher of the Bamenda-based newspaper Voice of the Voiceless. The others are Tim Finnian publisher of Life Time newspaper and Atia Azohnwi, a journalist with The Sun newspaper.

Since November 2016, there have been ongoing protests and unrest in the two Anglophone regions of Cameroon following the decision of government to impose the use French language in schools and courts based in the regions.

The President’s decision according to a Press Release issued by the Presidency on August 30, 2017 instructed the Yaounde Military Tribunal to discontinue proceedings against over 50 persons that included the above mentioned journalists and leaders was in line with numerous measures undertaken by the Government to address concerns of the people of the two Anglophone regions. 

“This decision, which is in line with numerous measures already taken by the Government to address the concerns voiced by the people of the two regions, stems from the Head of State’s firm resolve to continuously explore ways and means of seeking a peaceful solution to crises, through virtues of tolerance, dialogue and humanism”, the statement said.

The statement however, contained dire warning for activists and dissidents termed as “enemies of peace and progress of the country.”

“The Head of State, however, reaffirms his determination to relentlessly combat all enemies of peace and progress, champions of division and criminals of all kinds who, under the guise of political demands, attempt to jeopardise the future of our country and especially that of our youths. They will be brought before the courts.”

Inasmuch as the African Freedom of Expression Exchange (AFEX) acknowledges the efforts being made by the government to resolve the ongoing crises in South-west and North-west Cameroon, we appeal to the Paul Biya government to tone down the anti-freedom rhetoric and demonstrate commitments in upholding freedom of expression rights of citizens as guaranteed by Cameroon’s Constitution and other regional frameworks signed by the country. We call on the President to further release all who still remain incarcerated and resort to dialogue in resolving the crises.

Police Stones Journalists as they Cover Staff Quarters on Fire

Felicia Anthonio
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Police Stones Journalists as they Cover Staff Quarters on Fire

This statement was originally published on hrnjuganda.org on August 24, 2017.

Kampala; Police Officers at Katwe Police Station have today 24th August 2017 stoned five journalists who were covering staff quarters that had caught fire at the same police station. The journalists who were stoned are Nassaka Joweria (Kingdom TV), Ivan Mbadhi (BBS TV), Rachel Mabala (Daily Monitor) Carol Nakibule (Delta TV) and Muhumuza Julius of Dream TV.

It is alleged that the fire which started at about 9:30am burnt six units and was as a result of one electric coil that was being used for cooking in one of the houses.

Joweria Nassaka, told HRNJ-Uganda that they received information that fire had gutted staff quarters at Katwe police station, upon arrival, they were denied entrance into the station by police officers at the main entrance.

This prompted them to go behind the police station where they climbed on top of a nearby house so as to be able to cover.

“We were on the roof covering, then one of the officers who was not dressed in a uniform commanded other officers who were also not dressed in uniform to throw stones at us. One stone hit me on the fore head and it is swollen,” Joweria told HRNJ-Uganda.

Joweria who had just received treatment from Doctor’s clinic in Mengo said that she was still in severe pain.

“When the police officers started throwing stones at us, I jumped from the roof and fell down, my leg got injured in the process… the Kingdom TV journalist was hit on the head and it is swollen.”Ivan Mbadhi, told HRNJ-Uganda.

When HRNJ-Uganda contacted Emilian Kayima, the spokesperson Kampala Metropolitan Police on phone, he feigned ignorance and said,” I have not heard that, we have a communication gap and nobody has told me anything like that,” Emilian said.

‘We highly condemn the actions by the police officers whose core mandate is to keep law and order and ensure that Ugandans are protected. Police officers are expected to be exemplary. Such actions would not differentiate trained police officers from criminals.” Said the HRNJ-Uganda National Coordinator Robert Ssempala

Togolese Police Kill Seven Protesters

Felicia Anthonio
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This statement was originally published by on mfwa.org on August 21, 2017.

There has been a bloody crackdown on peaceful anti-government protesters in Togo, with the opposition reporting seven deaths, while official sources report two fatalities.

The simultaneous protests were held in four cities across Togo – Sokode, Kara, Anie and Lome – to demand term limits on the presidency and an end to the “Gnasingbe dynasty.” President Faure Gnasingbe is serving his third term after succeeding his father, Gnasingbe Eyadema, who ruled for 38 years.

The police used lethal force to disperse the thousands of demonstrators. They also injured and arrested many of the protesters including Sama Kossi, the Secretary General of the opposition Pan African National Party, (PNP).

In a statement, the security ministry said two civilians were killed in Sokode and 12 gendarmes were wounded.

However, Tikpi Atchadam, President of the Pan-African National Party put the death toll at seven.

“Police shot and killed seven innocent civilians in Sokode over 300 kilometers from Lomé who were protesting over the way one family has been ruling the country for over fifty years. From the father to the son; it’s like a family property and we are ready to resist that this time,” Atchadam said at a press conference on Saturday night.

The Minister of Territorial Administration, Payadowa Boukpessi, tried to rationalise the police violence by claiming that “the demonstrators were armed with stones, knives and cutlasses. They were attacking the security forces who were there to provide them security.”

Meanwhile, the Togolese League for Human Rights, at a press conference on August 20, blamed the government for the crackdown which it believed was “premedited.”

“We demand that the perpetrators of these killings do not go unpunished and that the people who have been arrested are released immediately, and we maintain that this repression was premditated.”

This is the second time in six months that police brutality has resulted in the deaths of protesters. On February 28, 2017, one person was killed when the police tried to break up a demonstration by taxi drivers and commercial motorcycle riders in Lomé.

The MFWA condemns the attacks on peaceful demonstrators. It is a flagrant violation of citizens’ right to peaceful assembly which must not go unpunished. We therefore call for thorough investigations to identify the perpetrators for appropriate retribution.

West Africa Media Excellence Conference and Awards – Call for Entries

Felicia Anthonio
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West Africa Media Excellence Conference and Awards – Call for Entries

Are you a journalist in West Africa who has produced compelling work(s) that has had significant impact on society? If yes, the Media Foundation for West Africa (MFWA) invites you to submit your work(s) for consideration for the first ever West Africa Media Excellence Awards.

This is an initiative to reward and inspire media excellence in West Africa. The maiden edition of the Awards is scheduled for October 28, 2017 in Accra, Ghana.

The Awards are opened to journalists from print, electronic and online media in Anglophone, Francophone and Lusophone countries in West Africa. Applicants must be West African, working with and for media organisation(s) based in West Africa. An Entry for the Awards must have been published or broadcast between the period, January 1 to December 31, 2016.

Deadline for submission of entries:       September 17, 2017 at 17.00 GMT.

Judging period:                                           October 2 to 4, 2017

Announcement of nominees/finalists:   October 10, 2017.

Applicants should upload published works via the entry form on the website: www.mfwa.org/wameca . The entry should be an original work published through a media outlet in West Africa and must show date of publication/broadcast and the medium in which the work was published.

The categories open for entries are:

  • Investigative Reporting
  • SDG’s Reporting
  • Business Reporting
  • ICT Reporting
  • Human Rights Reporting
  • Photojournalism
  • ECOWAS and Regional integration
  • Sports Reporting
  • Health reporting
  • Anti-corruption Reporting
  • Environmental Reporting
  • Women’s Rights Reporting
  • Children’s Rights Reporting
  • Oil and Gas Reporting

From the entries submitted, the judges will also select the overall best report for the prestigious West African Journalist of the Year Award.

Applicants may submit entries to a maximum of two categories and for each category a maximum of two entries.

Finalists will be hosted at the Awards event on the 28th of October, 2017 and also participate in the West Africa Media Excellence Conference on the 27th of October, 2017 which will feature sessions on topical journalism issues and also provide opportunities for networking with other journalists, editors, and experts from West Africa.

For further clarifications, please write to info[@]mfwa.org or Abigail Larbi (abigail[@]mfwa.org) or call the MFWA on +233 302 242470.

Journalist Detained without Trial in DRC

Felicia Anthonio
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Journalist Detained without Trial in DRC

A Congolese journalist has been detained by the country’s security agents without charge since July 31, 2017.

According to Journaliste en Danger (JED), a member of the African Freedom of Expression Exchange (AFEX) in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), a group of secret service officials, arrested Jean Pierre Tshibitshabu, an independent journalist while he was covering demonstrations in Kasumbalesa, a border town in the Katanga province.

The demonstration organised by a citizens’ movement, “la Lutte pour le Changement (Fighting for Change) was calling for the delayed general elections in the country to be held in December this year.

On the same day, security agents arrested about 15 other journalists some of whom were physically assaulted while covering similar demonstrations across the country. Most of the journalists were subsequently released after police deleted their recordings. 

Congolese political leaders agreed to hold the delayed presidential, legislative and provincial elections in December 2017.

AFEX joins its member, Journaliste en Danger (JED) to express deep concern about the crackdown on freedom of expression rights in DRC.

We condemn the arbitrary arrest of Jean Pierre Tshibitshabu who has since been detained at the Kasapa central prison without trial.  AFEX urges Congo’s judicial authorities to order the police to release the journalist as this violates provisions of the country’s constitution and Article 9 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), which the DRC has ratified since 1979. We also call on the police to stop the arbitrary arrest and detention of journalists in the country.

MFWA to Award Excellent Journalism in West Africa

Felicia Anthonio
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MFWA to Award Excellent Journalism in West Africa

The Media Foundation for West Africa (MFWA) on August 2, 2017 officially launched the first ever West Africa Media Excellence Conference and Awards (WAMECA) in Accra, Ghana.

WAMECA is an initiative to reward and inspire media excellence in West Africa as well as honour West African journalists working with and for media organizations based in West Africa who have, through original work, produced compelling work(s) that has had significant impact on society.

The maiden edition of WAMECA is scheduled for October 27 and 28, 2017 and will be held in Accra, Ghana. The two-part event has a 2-day Media Conference which will bring together over 200 journalists, media experts, editors, academics, freedom of expression advocates and high profile personalities from across West Africa and beyond including all the national partner organisations of the MFWA from all 16 countries in West Africa.

Participants will also deliberate and make concrete recommendations on issues such as media sustainability; investigative journalism; media and good governance, and cyber security in West Africa.

The Awards will be held in the evening of October 28, 2017 with over 300 participants including corporate leaders, CSOs and other international organisations.

Meanwhile, Submission of entries for the Awards is opened to journalists from the Thursday, August 10 to Sunday, September 17, 2017. The Awards are opened to journalists from print, electronic and online media in Anglophone, Francophone and Lusophone countries in West Africa. Applicants must be West African, working with and for media organisation(s) based in West Africa. Entries for the awards should cover works from January 1 to December 31, 2016. Nominees for the awards will be announced on the 10th October 2017.

The Awards will recognize excellence in the following categories:

  • Investigative Reporting
  • SDG’s Reporting
  • Business Reporting
  • ICT Reporting
  • Human Rights Reporting
  • Photojournalism
  • ECOWAS and Regional integration
  • Sports Reporting
  • Health reporting
  • Anti-corruption Reporting
  • Environmental Reporting
  • Women’s Rights Reporting
  • Children’s Rights Reporting
  • Oil and Gas Reporting

From the entries submitted, the judges will also select the overall best report for the prestigious West African Journalist of the Year Award.

The Executive Director of MFWA, Sulemana Braimah said it was important to recognise and celebrate media practitioners, whose works continue to transform society positively, hence the media excellence awards.

“WAMECA seeks to promote excellent journalism and inspire media practitioners researching and publishing compelling stories to make the world a better place.” Mr. Braimah explained.

“I am hopeful that WAMECA will come to stay and will continue to uncover amazing journalistic talents in West Africa without which may otherwise not be recognised.” He added.

For further clarifications, please write to info[@]mfwa.org or Abigail Larbi (abigail[@]mfwa.org) or call the MFWA on +233 302 242470. You can also visit www.mfwa.org/wameca for more information on WAMECA,

Culture of Impunity Still Pervasive in Africa: 113 FOE Violations Recorded, Only 10 Redressed

Felicia Anthonio
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Culture of Impunity Still Pervasive in Africa: 113 FOE Violations Recorded, Only 10 Redressed

Impunity for crimes against journalists, media professionals, activists and citizens remains a worrying trend in Africa. According to the second edition of the Freedom of Expression Situation in Africa Report produced by the African Freedom of Expression Exchange (AFEX) which cited a total of 113 violations recorded, only ten of these violations received some form of redress.

The AFEX Freedom of Expression (FOE) Situation report which covered January – June 2017 highlighted 12 categories of violations. Physical attacks and arrests and detentions were the major types of violations with 32 incidents each. Other violations included censorship (9), online violations (8), ban/shutdown (7) of media organisations and killing (6) which was the most heinous type of violation recorded was in six countries.   

Security agents were the major perpetrators of the violations recorded. They accounted for 80 of the 113 violations, followed distantly by state officials and individuals who were responsible for 12 violations each.

Regrettably, only 10 out of 113 of these violations have received some form of redress. No perpetrator has been arrested or identified for all six incidents of killing, four of which were perpetrated by security officials.  

The African Freedom of Expression Exchange (AFEX) expresses serious concern about the issue of safety of journalists and impunity for crimes against critical voices on the Continent. Impunity for crimes against journalists leads to increased attacks on journalists and dissenting voices which is inimical for democracy. AFEX calls on governments and stakeholders as a matter of urgency, to put in place measures not only to ensure that freedom of expression rights are protected but also end impunity for crimes against journalists and dissenting citizens.

Kindly click here to access the full report for details of the countries and the types of violations recorded from January to June 2017.

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