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AfricaAngola Benin Botswana Burkina Faso Burundi Cameroon Cape Verde Central African Republic Chad Comoros Côte d'Ivoire Democratic Republic of Congo Djibouti Equatorial Guinea Eritrea Ethiopia Gabon Ghana Guinea-Bissau Guinea Kenya Lesotho Liberia Madagascar Malawi Mali Mauritania Mauritius Mozambique Namibia Niger Nigeria Republic of Congo Rwanda São Tomé and Príncipe Senegal Seychelles Sierra Leone Somalia South Africa Sudan Swaziland Tanzania The Gambia Togo Uganda Zambia Zimbabwe

Africa

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From the Communiqué

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Nigeria

Journalist almost killed by mourners; other journalists threatened by soldiers

A Nigerian radio journalist covering the mass funeral of victims of a 7 March massacre in villages in central Nigeria was brutally assaulted by mourners, report the Nigeria-based Media Rights Agenda (MRA) and the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ). Journalists have also been harassed and intimidated by soldiers in the region, reports the International Federation of Journalists (IFJ).

Ethiopia

Four media houses crushed with lethal fines

The Ethiopian government is settling political scores against journalists by slamming four newspaper publishing companies with crippling fines in reprisal for their coverage of the disputed 2005 elections, report the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ), the International Press Institute (IPI) and the International Federation of Journalists (IFJ). The state is threatening to freeze their assets if the fines are not paid.

Uganda

New bill protects whistleblowers, but press freedom still undermined

The Ugandan parliament has passed a bill that protects individuals who disclose information on corruption or law-breaking in government or private bodies, reports ARTICLE 19. But Ugandan journalists are fighting for the right to do their jobs as press freedom violations escalated in the country in 2009 with countless radio stations shut down, say local rights groups.

Liberia

Assaults on journalists and legal threats curb press freedom

Police brutality and legal action are the two greatest sources of attacks on journalists in Liberia, says the Center for Media Studies and Peace Building (CEMESP) in its 2009 report. Journalists and media workers also face death threats, detention and censorship.

Côte d'Ivoire

Opposition protestors killed; media barred from reporting

Security forces fired on anti-government protesters in the city of Gagnoa, Ivory Coast, killing five and injuring several others on 19 February, report the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) and Reporters Without Borders (RSF). French TV news station France 24 was suspended after its coverage of the incident and opposition newspapers have been threatened.

Angola

War on separatists used as cover to imprison rights defenders and harass journalists

The Angolan government is targeting human rights defenders with intimidation, harassment and detention, says Human Rights Watch. The lethal attack on Togolese football players by Angolan separatist rebels in January was also used as an excuse to round up critics of the government. At least eight activists have been arrested since the attack and journalists have been threatened.

Campaigns and Advocacy

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France/Eritrea

Radio Erena: an independent news source for Eritrea

Based in Paris and run by exiled Eritrean journalists, Radio Erena has been operating for the past nine months.

Democratic Republic of Congo

Help restore RFI's radio signal

Journaliste en Danger (JED) launched a campaign on 23 February 2010 to restore the FM signal of French public radio station Radio France Internationale (RFI) in the Democratic Republic of Congo: "Release the info, reopen RFI." JED is asking you to sign a petition, which will be sent to President Joseph Kabila.

Ghana

Hundreds to march in support of Right to Information Bill

Apart from raising awareness, the march will highlight the need for a thorough revision of draft bill to ensure that it complies with international best practice standards.

Eritrea

RSF asks UN to investigate the fate of imprisoned journalists

Three years after the death of imprisoned journalist Fessehaye "Joshua" Yohannes, conditions for Eritrean detainees remain among the most disturbing in the world.

Senegal

ARTICLE 19 welcomes formation of national committee for adoption of a law on access to information

A committee that includes ARTICLE 19 will work with the local Transparency International chapter to ensure that the draft law is in line with international standards.

Côte d'Ivoire

RSF reports on mission to Côte d'Ivoire

RSF visited Abidjan from 9 to 11 November 2009 to evaluate the current media situation and recommend measures to guarantee press freedom ahead of upcoming elections.