Africa

Botswana's new Media Practitioners Act is a threat to the rights and free operations and existence of the media in the country, free speech groups have said. While the law says it is aimed at preserving media freedom, upholding standards of professional conduct and promoting ethical standards and discipline, these good intentions are undermined by many sections of the law which we believe restrict...

South African President Kgalema Motlanthe has reportedly refused to sign the Films and Publications Amendment Bill, questioning its constitutionality and returning it "untouched" to Parliament, according to the Media Institute of Southern Africa (MISA). The controversial bill, drafted by the Department of Home Affairs (DHA) and initially meant to fight child pornography, has been referred back to...

Supporters of Namibia's ruling South West Africa People's Organisation (SWAPO) party, under the umbrella body of the SWAPO Elders Council, have criticised the Namibian newspaper and radio stations for what they allege to be insults and criticism levelled against the party's leaders, current President Hifikepunye Pohamba and former president Sam Nujoma. Party supporters say they want the Namibian...

Swaziland's Prime Minister, Sibusiso Dlamini, notorious for harassing and closing down media houses during his previous term as prime minister between 1993 and 2003, has assured journalists that they will enjoy media freedom during his new term. Dlamini was recently re-appointed by the king. Speaking to editors during a breakfast meeting on January 29, 2009, Dlamini said the media shouldn't be...

The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) has demanded the release of four journalists imprisoned in Cameroun on libel charges. The four Cameroonian journalists have been in prison since last September following allegations of "critical reports" against President Paul Biya and the Cameroonian authorities. "We demand the immediate release of the detained journalists and the...

The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) has warned that a call by the United Nations Special Envoy in Somalia, Ahmed Ould Abdallh, to suspend news reporting from Somalia was an "ill-thought out and counter-productive" response to the media crisis in the country. "We oppose this move because it will not work and could make the situation even worse for journalists," said Aidan White, IFJ...

Boussada Ben Ali, the managing editor of independent Nigerien weekly L’Action, was Friday sentenced to three months in prison and fined 50,000 CFA francs (about 76 euros) for “publishing false information”. The journalist immediately appealed against the sentence but will remain in custody at Niamey prison where he has been since January 26 while awaiting the outcome of the appeal, Reporters sans...

Gambian authorities are continuing to to hound the Point, a privately-owned daily based in Banjul. Its editor, Pap Saine, was charged with publishing false information yesterday, two days after being arrested and then freed on bail for reporting the arrest of a Gambian diplomat, Reporters sans Frontières (RSF) has reported. Saine is to appear in court again on February 19. “Saine’s arrest comes...

A Liberian journalist who testified against ex-President Charles Taylor should not be forced to reveal a confidential source, the Committee to Protect Journalists has said. The journalist, Hassan Bility, testified on January 14 about a 1997 reporting trip to Sierra Leone in which he documented alleged ties between Liberian government troops and Sierra Leonean rebels. Liberia's ex-President Charles...

Eritrean authorities must disclose the medical condition and care being provided to jailed journalist Dawit Isaak, the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) has demanded following unofficial reports saying that he was hospitalised. CPJ pointed out that the well-being of the long-jailed Isaak, an Eritrean with Swedish citizenship, is the responsibility of the government, which has yet to provide...