Africa

The police in the Cameroon's capital, Yaoundé, Thursday forced a popular radio station off the air and confiscated its equipment over commentary critical of the government during a call-in programme, according to local journalists, the New York-based Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) has reported. Magic FM is the third broadcaster summarily closed by authorities within a week in response to...

The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) today called on the authorities of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) to release journalist Maurice Kayombo, who has been held for two weeks on charges of “blackmail and disparaging an official,” after the secretary-general of the mining ministry filed a complaint against him. “We condemn this detention, which is being used to intimidate...

The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) today called on Chadian authorities to end a wave of media repression, which started in November 2006 in the wake of violent conflict in the eastern part of the country and has most recently been seen in the detention and intimidation of media executives. Lazare Djekourninga Kaoutar, the director of FM Liberté radio station, is charged with...

The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) today called on Tanzanian authorities to launch a thorough investigation into the brutal assault of two veteran journalists while they were working in their newsroom. Saed Kubenea, owner and managing editor of the Kiswahili weekly Mwana Halisi, and Ndimara Tegambwage, a consultant editor with the paper, were assaulted by multiple attackers on...

The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) today called for an investigation into the death of private radio station director Abdou Mahaman, who was killed after his vehicle ran over a landmine Tuesday night in Niger’s capital Niamey. “We are shocked by this brutal killing and we are sending out condolences to his wife, his children and his colleagues,” said Gabriel Baglo, Director of the...

The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) has backed the call of the Press Union of Liberia (PUL) for journalists in the country to stand in solidarity with six colleagues and a newspaper accused of libel by Ambrose Nmah, the general manager of a media group. Nmah, who also presents a news programme on the radio, is suing the journalists after they published a statement calling on the PUL...

The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) has condemned the detention of a newspaper editor in Chad, who was held illegally by authorities for four days in connection with an article he wrote accusing the President of ethnic cleansing, and called on authorities to drop charges against him alleging he has incited “tribal hate.” “The government has brought charges against our colleague to...

The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) has condemned the pressure and attacks on media in the Gambia which have been on the rise despite a three-year international campaign for press freedom, journalist safety and justice in the killing of prominent journalist Deyda Hydara. “We are deeply upset that President Yahya Jammeh has learned nothing from the killing of Deyda,” said Gabriel...

The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) has called on witnesses and those who have information on the killing of Norbert Zongo to step forward with evidence that could be used to reopen the case. Today is the 9th anniversary of the assassination of the journalist, who was killed along with three companions in Burkina Faso. Zongo, who was an investigative journalist and editor of the...

The World Association of Newspapers (WAN) and World Editors Forum (WEF) have renewed their call for a "thorough and impartial" investigation into the murder of journalist Norbert Zongo of Burkina Faso, who was killed nine years ago today, December 13. "We are seriously concerned that, after nine years, the failure to bring Zongo’s murderers to justice only increases the appearance of political...