February 13, 2014 – On the occasion of World Radio Day, the African Freedom of Expression Exchange (AFEX) wishes to extend its congratulations to all news media organisations and individuals involved in the radio industry in Africa.
AFEX condemns imprisonment of Somali journalist in Ethiopia as a “travesty of justice”
The African Freedom of Expression Exchange (AFEX) condemns in the strongest terms the 27-year sentence imposed on veteran Somali journalist, Mohamed Aweys Mudey, aged 48, in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
Ethiopian prosecutors accused Mudey of having information about Al-Shabaab operations in Ethiopia and charged him with participating in terror activities. Mudey, who was persecuted under Ethiopia’s anti-terror law, was arrested in Addis Ababa in November 2013. In February this year, when the 4-month period prescribed by anti-terror law to investigate a suspect elapsed, he was found guilty of the charges and given this harsh sentence.
Parliamentary Contestant Assaults Journalist, Destroys Recording Gadget
This statement was originally published on hrnjuganda.org on October 29, 2015.
A parliamentary seat contestant for the ruling party National Resistance Movement (NRM) flag, Eddie Ssansa, on 28th October, 2015 assaulted a Daily Monitor-Masaka based correspondent, Shamim Jjingo Nakawooya for asking him what he termed “embarrassing question.” Ssansa destroyed a cell phone which she was using to record his interview with journalists at the Masaka regional police headquarters.
Jjingo told HRNJ-Uganda that Ssansa slapped her twice and fondled her breasts even after she had been rescued from him by other journalists. “When I asked him about having huge personal debts, he lost his temper; he started abusing me, slapped me on the cheek, in the chest and destroyed my smart phone which I was using to record the proceedings of the interview when he hit it on the ground.” Jjingo said
She further told HRNJ-Uganda that Ssansa threatened to, “Run over me with his car if he ever met me on the way.” Ssansa is vying for the NRM party flag for the Bukoto West seat with the incumbent Member of Parliament Isaac Ssejjoba and Joseph Muyomba Kasozi. Sources described Him as a violent person who previously confronted journalists when he was the Masaka district Secretary for Finance.
Ssansa also threatened to destroy a video camera for the NBS television journalist, Farish Magembe who was recording the incident, prompting him to stop forthwith.
Jjingo told HRNJ-Uganda that she was experiencing severe chest pain and had a swollen face. She reported a case of assault and malicious damage to property at the Masaka regional police headquarters.
A couple of journalists have been assaulted, detained, shot at and their gadgets confiscated during the ongoing ruling party elections for flag bearers ahead of the country’s general elections due February next year.
“The conduct of Ssansa is gross violation of the media rights and abuse of power; he should be investigated and taken to court for assaulting, damaging and threatening violence to journalists. The police should ensure the safety and security of journalists on duty by properly investigating and bringing perpatrators of violence against them to justice.” Said the HRNJ-Uganda National Coordinator, Robert Ssempala.