Africa

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Spotlight: Africa Digital Rights Free Expression & the Law

Benin's internet shutdown, Bobi Wine arrested in Uganda, What's Crap on WhatsApp and more

2 May 2019
By Reyhana Masters for IFEX. Based on IFEX member reports

A bittersweet month in Africa: Journalists in Mozambique released, democracy undermined as Beninese head to polls, Bobi Wine in court, innovative ideas to tackle disinformation ahead of South African elections, the dangers of being a journalist in Nigeria, and targeting of environmental activists.

Access to Information Africa Attacks

AFEX reminds African leaders of possibility to chart new course around FoE

Against the backdrop of World Press Freedom Day commemorations in Ethiopia this year, the AFEX network is reminding African governments to actively promote and defend freedom of expression on the continent.

‎ African Freedom of Expression Exchange (AFEX) ‎30 April 2019

Impunity Africa Attacks

High levels of impunity on the continent for crimes against journalists

The Annual Freedom of Expression Situation in Africa Report for 2018 highlights the high level of impunity on the continent for crimes against journalists, based on the 208 freedom of expression violations recorded during 2018 of which only 14 of the cases received remedial action.

‎ African Freedom of Expression Exchange (AFEX) ‎24 April 2019

Africa Attacks Freedom of Assembly

MFWA documents 152 FoE violations in the region during 2018

A disturbing 152 violations ranging from killings to kidnapping, physical attacks, arrests and detentions and freedom of assembly violations were recorded during 2018 and documented by MFWA in their 2018 West Africa Freedom of Expression Monitor report.

‎ Media Foundation for West Africa (MFWA)‎21 April 2019

Latest from Africa

AFEX condemns impunity for crimes against journalists

‎ African Freedom of Expression Exchange

Impunity Africa Attacks 21 April 2019
West African journalists dealing with detentions and assaults

‎ Media Foundation for West Africa (MFWA)

Access to Information Africa Attacks Digital Rights 15 April 2019
An RTI win, scribbling schoolgirls released, regional bodies slam shutdowns and journalists jailed

‎ By Reyhana Masters for IFEX. Based on IFEX member reports

Africa Digital Rights Gender 28 March 2019
Governments across continent take punitive actions against critical media

‎ African Freedom of Expression Exchange

Africa Free Expression & the Law 22 March 2019
The link between authoritarianism, power retention and internet shutdowns

‎ Collaboration on International ICT Policy for East and Southern Africa (CIPESA)

Access to Information Africa Digital Rights 19 March 2019
Militant insurgencies impact media freedom, fake news and elections, and more

‎ By Reyhana Masters for IFEX. Based on IFEX member reports

Africa Digital Rights Gender 9 March 2019
MISA Zimbabwe concerned by media shutdowns on the continent

‎ Media Institute of Southern Africa (MISA)

Digital Rights Attacks Africa 7 March 2019
MFWA's new major project aimed at promoting free, quality and independent media

‎ Media Foundation for West Africa (MFWA)

Africa Attacks 5 March 2019
2019 kicks off with mayhem and murder for media in West Africa

‎ Media Foundation for West Africa (MFWA)

Africa Attacks Digital Rights Freedom of Assembly 19 February 2019
Rapidly evolving West African media landscape poses challenges

‎ Media Foundation for West Africa (MFWA)

Access to Information Africa 19 February 2019
Death, shutdowns, crackdown and a glimmer of hope as Angola reviews penal code clauses in favour of LGBTQI rights

‎ By Reyhana Masters for IFEX. Based on IFEX member reports

Africa Digital Rights Attacks Gender 6 February 2019
Internet shutdowns are governments' new weapon of choice

‎ African Freedom of Expression Exchange

Sudan Africa Digital Rights Zimbabwe Freedom of Assembly 23 January 2019
Africa in December: Electoral mayhem in the DRC, the violent suppression of seething Sudanese, and more

‎ Reyhana Masters for IFEX. Based on IFEX member reports

Access to Information Africa Attacks 8 January 2019
Free expression under assault in Uganda, freedom of assembly wins in South Africa, and fear a way of life for LGBTQI+ in Tanzania

‎ Reyhana Masters for IFEX. Based on IFEX member reports

Access to Information Africa Attacks Gender 6 December 2018
West Africa: Expression of dissent in the form of demonstrations increasingly risky

‎ Media Foundation for West Africa (MFWA)

Africa Attacks Freedom of Assembly 29 November 2018
AFEX calls on African governments to promote safety of journalists

‎ African Freedom of Expression Exchange

Impunity Africa Attacks Digital Rights 14 November 2018
Arrests and murder in Somalia, Facebook fact-checking in South Africa, and questioning official statistics in Tanzania – a crime?

‎ Reyhana Masters for IFEX. Based on member reports

Africa Attacks 8 November 2018
Africa in September: From the crazy to the brave to the uniquely momentous

‎ Reyhana Masters for IFEX

Africa Free Expression & the Law Gender 8 October 2018
Citizens' analysis of government openness in southern Africa

‎ Media Institute of Southern Africa (MISA)

Access to Information Africa 1 October 2018
Internet freedom under threat as crackdown on journalists and bloggers rises

‎ Media Foundation for West Africa (MFWA)

Africa Digital Rights Attacks 14 September 2018
From musicians to media, from subtle to severe: suppression of free expression in Africa

‎ By Reyhana Masters for IFEX

Africa Attacks Censorship 10 September 2018
AFEX backs ACHPR condemnation of restrictive online regulations in East Africa

‎ African Freedom of Expression Exchange (AFEX)

Africa Digital Rights Censorship 21 August 2018
Police brutality against journalists underlines culture of impunity in West Africa

‎ Media Foundation for West Africa (MFWA)

Impunity Africa Attacks 16 August 2018
July in Africa: Contentious and contested elections on the continent

‎ By Reyhana Masters for IFEX

Africa Attacks Freedom of Assembly 15 August 2018
June in Africa: Taxing social media, the IPI World Congress, and more...

‎ Reyhana Masters for IFEX

Africa Digital Rights Free Expression & the Law 13 July 2018
Challenging government hacking for surveillance in Latin America and Africa

‎ Privacy International

International Americas Africa Digital Rights 11 July 2018

At a glance

members working in this region 15

See list

Most covered free expression issues in this region

More from Africa

Annual Freedom of Expression Situation in Africa Report - 2018

African Freedom of Expression Exchange (AFEX) 10 April 2019
Despots and Disruptions: Five Dimensions of Internet Shutdowns in Africa

In regards to internet freedom, Africa got off to an awful start in 2019. Internet disruptions were registered in five countries (Chad, Democratic Republic of Congo, Gabon, Sudan and Zimbabwe) within the first three weeks of the year. The disruptions were related to elections, protests against government policies, and, what seemed like a coup attempt.

Collaboration on International ICT Policy for East and Southern Africa (CIPESA) 18 March 2019
West Africa Freedom of Expression Monitor July-September 2018

Thirty-five violations were recorded in 12 countries with Nigeria recording the highest number. The findings show a slight reduction in the cases of violations compared to the previous quarter (April June, 2018) which recorded 40 violations.

Media Foundation for West Africa (MFWA) 30 October 2018