CPJ Africa - Committee to Protect Journalists

06/12/2026

The Committee to Protect Journalists calls on Ethiopian authorities to reverse the expulsion of French journalist Augustine Passilly of La Croix following her reporting trip to the northern state of Tigray, where residents spoke out about their fears of a return to war.

“Ethiopia’s expulsion of Augustine Passilly is a blatant act of retaliation against a journalist for reporting on developments in Tigray, an issue of significant political and security importance that authorities would rather not see scrutinized or discussed publicly,” said CPJ Africa Director Angel Quintal.

“Authorities should immediately restore Passilly’s press accreditation and residency permit, allow her to return to Ethiopia and continue her reporting, and stop using regulatory powers to punish independent journalism.”

Read more in the comments.

06/12/2026

CPJ welcomes Thursday’s release of Somaliland journalists Mubaarik Mohamed Aadan, Mohamed Yusuf Ali, and Abdilatif Said Ahmed.

Mubaarik and Abdilatif were arrested on April 22 and Mohamed on April 27 in the eastern town of Erigavo and charged under Article 287 of the Penal Code with publishing false news for reporting allegations that the Erigavo offices of the ministry of water had closed.

They were released on bail on April 28 and detained again on June 10 pending judgment.

Mubaarik (left) was acquitted. Mohamed (with glasses) and Abdilatif were each fined 1 million Somaliland shillings (US$100), or one year in prison in default of payment. The fines were paid, securing their release.

This case marked Abdilatif’s third arrest since March 2025, as the breakaway region of Somalia has seen an uptick in short-term detentions of journalists.

Journalists should never face arrest, detention, or criminal prosecution for their reporting.

Read more in the comments.

06/11/2026

O CPJ orgulha-se de ter contribuído para o projeto da Forbidden Stories, que investiga os desaparecimentos dos jornalistas Ibraimo Mbaruco e Arlindo Chissale e a ausência de justiça nos assassinatos de João Chamusse e Albino Sibia.

“Os ataques contra jornalistas não são combatidos. Não há qualquer responsabilização e há total impunidade”, disse CPJ's Angela Quintal à Forbidden Stories, uma das mais de 100 pessoas entrevistadas.

As reportagens revelam um padrão mais amplo de desaparecimentos forçados e assassinatos políticos, com o envolvimento de figuras ligadas ao partido governante Frelimo.

Leia mais: https://forbiddenstories.org/projects_posts/mozambique-exposed/
https://expresso.pt/internacional/2026-06-09-em-mocambique-o-regime-impos-um-apagao-aos-jornalistas-investigacao-forbidden-stories-3b184375

O Forbidden Stories publica o Mozambique Exposed: o culminar de quase 100 entrevistas e de cinco meses de trabalho por parte de 10 meios de comunicação e 30 jornalistas. Parte do consórcio viajou até Cabo Delgado para entrevistar vítimas do conflito, que também têm sofrido os efeitos colatera...

06/10/2026

Le Comité pour la protection des journalistes se réjouit de la libération sous contrôle judiciaire, ce mercredi, du journaliste Toufé Maecha après trois jours de détention en raison de ses articles parus dans La Gazette des Comoros sur l'état de santé d'un ancien président en détention.

« Les autorités comoriennes devraient s’abstenir d’arrêter cavalièrement des journalistes pour leurs reportages et reconnaître plutôt l’importance de publier des informations sur des sujets d’intérêt public », a déclaré Moussa Ngom, représentant du CPJ pour l’Afrique francophone.

Le directeur de publication du journal, El-Had Saïd Omar, également arrêté lundi, avait été libéré sous conditions, hier.

Pour en savoir plus, consultez les commentaires.

06/08/2026

When Ghana’s President John Dramani Mahama took office in January 2025, pledging to restore “an era of true media freedom,” journalists had reason to hope that attacks on the press would be taken more seriously than before.

But during Mahama’s tenure, CPJ has documented eight separate incidents in which at least 17 journalists were attacked with almost complete impunity. State actors carried out nearly 50% of the attacks.

Read the full story below.

05/30/2026

“We walk on a tightrope. There’s no guarantee that you’ll be safe after reports … We are always living under the shadow of fear,” an Ethiopian journalist told CPJ — one of several who spoke on condition of anonymity about the impossibility of reporting effectively on the country’s June 1 election.

Journalists revealed that intimidation, detention, license suspensions, accreditation revocations, and informal threats are hollowing out independent coverage and causing reporters to flee their home towns and the profession.

One editor said: “I cannot say that there is a media outlet serving the public with regard to the election. The media has forgotten the meaning of election.”

Read more: https://cpj.org/?p=592637

05/29/2026

CPJ’s new interactive map identifies 91 Nigerian journalists who have been arrested, attacked, or harassed in the three years since President Tinubu’s inauguration, despite V.P. Kashim Shettima's suggestion that no journalists have been targeted during his tenure.

“For the past three years, have you heard of any harassment of journalists?” Shettima asked a Nigerian Press Council member in February, adding that Tinubu was “a friend of the media” who promoted “an environment that is conducive for journalists to carry out their duties without harassment.”

His comments do not match reality.

"When the Nigerian government says the sky is blue, you should go outside and check again," was the response of News Central TV’s Karina Adobaba-Harry to Shettima’s claim in her video interview with CPJ.

In April, CPJ and five local press freedom groups wrote to Tinubu, detailing the attacks during his tenure and calling for accountability. The letter went unanswered.

Browse the map, read the letter, and find out more in the comments.

Editor’s note: This map was updated on June 2 to correct the location of Sodeeq Atanda’s arrest to Ekiti State.

05/29/2026

In the countdown to Ethiopia’s June 1 election, The Reporter Magazine's Bewket Abebe flew to the town of Humera to report from one of the country’s most contested territories. He never made his meeting.

Security personnel searched his phone and detained him for three days in a crowded cell.

“The detention place was overflowing and crammed. It was hot and unsanitary,” Bewket told CPJ.

With journalists summoned, arrested, threatened, and pushed into self-censorship, Ethiopian reporters say the real election story is fear and the public is being left in the dark.

Read more in the comments.