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Campaigns and Advocacy - West Africa

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Senegal

Freedom of expression and access to information key to promoting equal political representation, says ARTICLE 19

The law on parity constitutes an integral part of the legal framework of Senegal, one of the most protective and progressive laws on women’s rights.

Nigeria

MRA celebrates World Press Freedom Day with YouTube videos on free expression

MRA has uploaded five videos in which the group talks briefly on the significance of World Press Freedom Day in Nigeria.

West Africa

MFWA salutes journalists on the occasion of World Press Freedom Day

MFWA notes with special concern the harrowing experience of media rights defenders in countries like Guinea Bissau and Mali who have had to perform their duties under harsh conditions imposed as a result of the recent coups in both countries.

Equatorial Guinea

Disappointing vote by UNESCO on Obiang prize

An 8 March decision by the executive board to change the controversial award's name and press UNESCO's Director General Irina Bokova to implement it was due to be formally adopted in a plenary session.

Joint action - Equatorial Guinea

Twenty-three African press freedom groups and journalists urge UNESCO to abolish Obiang prize

The signatories noted that while President Obiang has offered to remove his name from the prize, this does not erase the concern that his US$3 million donation links him and the abuses of his government to UNESCO, thereby undercutting the organisation’s worthy mission.

Ghana

MFWA-MUSIGA statement marking Music Freedom Day

In Ghana, musicians have faced threats, insults and intimidation from opposing political party activists for composing songs for political parties of their choice during election campaigns.

Equatorial Guinea

Eliminate Obiang Prize, urge seven civil society groups

Critics oppose President Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo's proposal to rename the award.

Côte d'Ivoire

Media practitioners and associations adopt new code of ethics

The new code of ethics is an outcome of the first phase of a media sector reform project undertaken by MFWA in partnership with IMS.

Senegal

RSF monitors freedom of information, media behaviour during presidential election campaign

During his five-day visit, RSF's representative is due to meet with government officials, journalists and news media.

Liberia

Freedom of information conference brings together participants from Bomi and Cape Mount counties

Participants called for the progressive review of the Liberian FOI law and appealed for the decentralisation of the complaint and appeal channels in the event of refusal to disclose information.

Equatorial Guinea

UNESCO suspends Obiang prize again

Human Rights Watch, Committee to Protect Journalists and other organisations are urging UNESCO's executive board to cancel the prize outright.

Cameroon

RSF urges government to take action on media reform in mission report

RSF is calling on the government to enact a series of reforms that are needed to improve media freedom, including a new media law and the decriminalisation of press offences.

Joint action - Equatorial Guinea

UNESCO director-general urged to cancel Obiang prize

The goal of "a free, safe and fair environment for journalists" would be greatly undermined should UNESCO's executive board move forward with an award named for and funded by Equatorial Guinean President Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo, say a group of organisations who participated in a UN consultative process on impunity last week.

Liberia

CEMESP holds freedom of information forum for local authorities, community radio journalists

Participants pledged to expedite and monitor the implementation of the freedom of information law and encourage the public to use it.

Liberia

CEMESP launches legal defense programme for journalists

The program, funded by the UK-based Media Legal Defense Initiative, seeks to provide legal support to journalists who are threatened with legal action on account of their work.

Guinea / Niger

RSF releases report on press freedom situation in Guinea and Niger

The result of recent fact-finding visits to Conakry and Niamey, the report describes recent transitions to democracy in these two countries as periods favourable to media freedom and evaluates the current situation and challenges ahead.

Senegal

Parliament commits to passing information law

Participants in a seminar organised by ARTICLE 19 and Forum Civil urge the government and other stakeholders to sensitise and train public servants to enable them to fully implement the access to information law and support the realisation of a transparent system of government.

Guinea

RSF urges authorities to implement 2010 press laws

After a five-day visit to Conakry, RSF presented its initial findings on the media situation in the country and announced its recommendations to the authorities.

Equatorial Guinea

UNESCO rejects petition to reinstate prize funded by Equatorial Guinea president

The UNESCO Executive Board declined to consider a request by the Obiang government to reverse its prior decision and award the prize without delay.

Côte d'Ivoire

New president must improve press freedom, says CPJ

With a new president in office, it is time to end the political persecution of journalists by creating an environment in which the press is free to report without fear of reprisals, CPJ said.

West Africa

WAJA World Press Freedom Day statement

WAJA stands in solidarity with fallen colleagues in the region and victims of threats, harassment and legal intimidation in Côte d'Ivoire, Togo, Sierra Leone and Senegal.

Côte d'Ivoire

President Ouattara wants to ensure all journalists can work freely, says Côte d'Ivoire ambassador to France

Ivorian ambassador Ally Coulibaly assured RSF that the new administration will respect media freedom, after the organisation called for an end to the abuses against the country's media.

Côte d'Ivoire

The "whole truth" will be revealed in Kieffer disappearance, says Ivorian ambassador in Paris

Ally Coulibaly received Guy-André Kieffer's family and friends, who wanted to know what chance there was of further investigation into the case with the departure of President Laurent Gbagbo.

Liberia

CEMESP hosts dialogue on media security

CEMESP Executive Director Malcolm Joseph said the forum was intended to find way forward against the persistent wave of brutality meted out against journalists carrying out their duties.

Togo

Media outlets protest to demand reopening of three radio stations

Most privately-owned radio stations and newspapers in Lome suspended their normal activities in protest against the continued closure of three radio stations since December 2010.

Côte d'Ivoire

African Union urged to press Gbagbo to halt abuses

Laurent Gbagbo's forces have targeted real and perceived supporters of Alassane Ouattara, using excessive and often lethal force against largely peaceful demonstrators since early December.

West Africa

MFWA wants free expression high on agenda of UN Universal Periodic Review

MFWA intends to submit stakeholders' reports to state delegates to ensure that state recommendations include a section on monitoring improvements in the state of the media and free expression.

Côte d'Ivoire

Recommendations of the Accra Meeting on the media and post-electoral crisis

The 27 participants who were drawn from media and civil society organisations discussed a range of issues.

Côte d'Ivoire

RSF urges United Nations to insist on respect for media freedom

As the UN Human Rights Council prepares to hold a session on the Ivorian situation, RSF urges it and other international bodies to pay attention to the press freedom situation.

Côte d'Ivoire

RSF releases assessment of media's coverage of campaign for presidential election second round

RSF is pleased with the neutral and unbiased coverage of leading state-owned broadcasters La Première and La Nationale.

Cameroon

CJFE welcomes release of journalists Serge Sabouang and Robert Mintya

"The fact they were released the day before they were to receive their awards is proof to us that bringing international pressure to bear can have an incredible impact," said CJFE.

Côte d'Ivoire

RSF's media monitoring resumes as second-round campaign gets underway

RSF is concerned to see that several newspapers have revived story subjects and slogans that are likely to fuel tension.

Côte d'Ivoire

RSF publishes open letter to presidential candidates Laurent Gbagbo and Alassane Ouattara

The letter asks the candidates to ensure that their media supporters respect journalistic ethics and refrain from insults, defamation and hate messages.

The Gambia

Journalists' rights advocates engage Gambian government on media situation

"We put before the minister our concerns for the need to reform all repressive laws and their provisions, as these are inimical to press freedom," said the NUSOJ delegate.

Côte d'Ivoire

Conclusions from media monitoring during campaign for first round of presidential election

RSF gave a news conference to present the preliminary findings of its monitoring of the Ivorian media during the campaign for the first round of the country's presidential election.

Equatorial Guinea / International

Dictator prize suspended indefinitely

UNESCO's board has acted following global protests over an award financed by Equatorial Guinea's leader, Teodoro Obiang.

Ghana

Former president hails historic repeal of criminal libel law

Ghana's former President, John Agyekum Kufuor, said that history had vindicated his government for the repeal of the criminal libel laws that were used to jail journalists.

Equatorial Guinea

Ninety-six organisations, including 34 IFEX members, call on UNESCO to pull Obiang Prize

In a letter, the organisations thanked UNESCO's director-general for recognising their concerns, but reiterated their call for the prize to be cancelled definitively, rather than simply postponed.

The Gambia / Ghana

Ghanaians protest against President Jammeh of The Gambia

The protest was part of activities organised to mark the 16th anniversary of President Yahya Jammeh's Coup d'État on 22 July 1994.

The Gambia

IFJ joins "Freedom Day" call for action on human rights violations

There is no freedom in The Gambia, where journalists in particular are routinely subjected to unfair trials, arrests and targeting by security agencies, says IFJ.

Liberia

House of Representatives passes Freedom of Information Law

The passage of the law was preceded by intense lobbying and advocacy support from various groups, including IFEX, the Open Society Initiative for West Africa and the Carter Center.

Côte d'Ivoire

Media groups demand immediate release of detained journalists

The media groups threatened to publish a complete report on alleged corruption should the authorities fail to release Saint Claver Oula, Stéphane Guédé and Théophile Kouamouo.

Guinea

Journalists are the forgotten victims of violence, ARTICLE 19 report says

Following the first free presidential elections in 52 years since independence, ARTICLE 19 has launched a report on free expression and the media.

Equatorial Guinea / International

"Dictator Prize" suspension only a temporary fix, says Human Rights Watch

UNESCO's executive board approved Director-General Irina Bokova's proposal to postpone the award and engage in consultations to consider the prize's future.

International / Equatorial Guinea

Momentum builds to stop "dictator prize", says Human Rights Watch

A chorus of voices from around the world is asking UNESCO to overturn its decision to award a prize named after and financed by President Teodoro Obiang, the abusive ruler of Equatorial Guinea.

The Gambia

MFWA opposes Jermaine Jackson's visit to the Gambia

The MFWA calls on the musician to halt his planned trip in protest against President Yahya Jammeh's complete disregard for law and order, freedom of expression, and human rights.

Joint action - Equatorial Guinea

Thirty IFEX members call on UNESCO to refuse funds from one of Africa's worst violators of press freedom, Equatorial Guinea

Recalling UNESCO's stated commitment to free expression on World Press Freedom Day, 30 IFEX members call for the organisation not to accept a $3 million donation from President Teodoro Obiang for the administration of an international prize in life sciences.

Cameroon

CPJ seeks untainted investigation of journalist's death

In a letter to the president, CPJ called on authorities to fully investigate the death in prison of journalist Germain Cyrille Ngota as well as to address the related allegations of torture.

Liberia

CEMESP World Press Freedom Day statement

On the occassion of World Press Freedom Day, 3 May 2010, CEMESP expresses disappointment that the state of media freedom in Liberia remains unchanged.

Côte d'Ivoire

Call for justice reiterated on sixth anniversary of journalist's disappearance

Franco-Canadian journalist Guy-André Kieffer was kidnapped from an Abidjan supermarket parking lot on 16 April 2004.

Liberia

CEMESP hosts media and security dialogue

CEMESP sees this symposium as a step towards the eventual enhancement of press freedom in Liberia.

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.

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.

Guinea

MFWA organises public forum on impunity

"Today in Guinea, if you invite any journalist to participate in any media discussion, he or she would not turn up for fear of being attacked by the soldiers," said a Guinean human rights lawyer during the forum.

Mauritania

President meets with RSF delegation in official visit to Paris

"My aim is to encourage press freedom and freedom of expression for all Mauritanians," Mohamed Ould Abdel Aziz told RSF.

Take action! - Cameroon

Help free imprisoned songwriter

Freemuse, a free expression organisation for musicians and composers, is asking for your support to help dissident singer/songwriter Lapiro de Mbanga. He was imprisoned in 2008 and fined US$640,000 for writing a song critical of Cameroonian President Paul Biya.

Joint action - West Africa

Four IFEX members, civil society groups fear Gambia proposal will prevent ECOWAS court from ruling in Saidykhan case

Groups say the Gambian government has proposed the amendments so that the Court will be weakened in its capacity to deal effectively with tyrannical governments.

The Gambia

Campaign for press freedom goes global as government revokes journalists' bail

Human rights organisations and trade unions in Europe and Africa have joined the growing protest against the prosecution of seven journalists accused of sedition and defamation.

Joint action - The Gambia

Six journalists released on bail, another arrested

RSF expressed relief after learning of the release on bail, on 22 June, of six journalists accused of "seditious publication" and imprisoned in Banjul.

Joint action - The Gambia

Forty-five IFEX members call for release of journalist Chief Ebrimah Manneh

Free expression advocates from around the world gathered this week in Oslo, Norway, at the IFEX General Meeting. Forty-five IFEX members signed on to the following statement, calling on The Gambian government to enforce an ECOWAS court judgement of the journalist's case.

Joint action - Nigeria

JOINT ACTION: ARTICLE 19 and MRA promote access to information in health matters

Participants at two pilot workshops organised by ARTICLE 19, in partnership with the Center for the Right to Health (CRH) and Media Rights Agenda (MRA), have adopted strategies promoting the right of access to information in health matters in two Nigerian states: Enugu and Lagos.

Joint action - The Gambia

Twenty-one IFEX members call for investigation into murder of journalist Deyda Hydara, release of reporter Chief Ebrima Manneh

(MFWA/IFEX) - The following is a joint action by 21 IFEX members:

Joint action - Nigeria

Two IFEX members and others condemn presidential veto of freedom of information bill, attacks on journalists and media outlets

(IJC/MRA/IFEX) - The following is a joint statement by IJC, MTA and other organisations:

Joint action - Nigeria

13 IFEX members sign WAJA statement on developments in Nigeria

Joint action - Nigeria

32 press freedom groups appeal to CHOGM over Nigeria, noting freedom of expression violations