SOJ Africa

faj-condemns-violent-attacks-against-journalists

n nnnn The Federation of African Journalists (FAJ), the pan-African organization of the International Federation of Journalists (IFJ), notes with serious concern and condemns in the strongest terms, the continuing attacks on journalists and media freedom in Uganda by the security forces. nnnn Several journalists suffered grave bodily injuries and psychological trauma on February 17, when the military police pounced on them as they covered the handing over of a petition against the deteriorating human rights situation in the country, to the United Nations Human Rights Office in Kampala, by the National Unity Platform (NUP) leader, Robert Kyagulanyi Ssentamu, also know as Bobi Wine. nnnn Broadcast journalists John Cliff Wamala – NTV, Josephine Namakumbi – NBS TV, Joseph Sabiti -NBS and their print colleagues Irene Abalo – Daily Monitor and Timothy Murungi – New Vision among others, were left bleeding and with sprained limbs after they were chased and beaten by  military police. nnnn FAJ takes note of the deteriorating environment for safety of journalists in Uganda and calls on President Museveni as Commander in Chief to be accountable and restrain his troops from engaging in unprovoked attacks against journalists and other citizens. nnnn “We note with concern that attacks against journalists which started during the campaigns for presidential elections continue to date and appear to have become an operational norm for Ugandan security personnel. The public has a right to know and this is only possible when journalists can operate in an environment that is secure and free of threats from any quarters. We wish to remind Ugandan authorities that they have a duty to protect journalists and other citizens from the arbitrary actions of the uniformed services,” FAJ President Sadiq Ibrahim Ahmed, said in reaction to the events in Uganda. nnnn The journalists were clearly identifiable and this attack represents a dangerous trend of targeted attacks against the media that is gaining ground in Uganda. The Federation wishes to remind the Ugandan government that journalism is not a crime. nnnn FAJ also censures the continued human rights violations, including abductions, killings and detention in ungazetted places, of people perceived to be opposition supporters. nnnn FAJ calls on the African Union and the wider international community to stand by journalists and the people of Uganda, to condemn and take action against the growing impunity and disregard for the rule of law by the Ugandan state. nnnn “We stand by our colleagues at the Uganda Journalists Union (UJU) who have taken a firm stance against these attacks which are a violation of Article 29 of the Uganda Constitution which guarantees press freedom and other liberties as well as Article 41 which guarantees the right to access to information”, added FAJ president. nnnn The Uganda Journalist Union (UJU) President, Lucy Anyango Ekadu, ,said there is no way journalists will  continue working under such conditions when they are beaten and their equipment damaged. She also called on all journalists who have been beaten and their equipment destroyed to open up cases against perpetrators of crimes against the media. nnnn “UJU is calling on partner organisations and journalists to consider imposing a complete blackout on all government events if their safety is not guaranteed”, she stated. nnnn IFJ General Secretary, Anthony Bellanger, said: “We are deeply concerned about the continuous attacks against press freedom in Uganda. Journalists shouldn’t be suffering physical and psychological attacks just for doing their job. The government must stop this outrageous harassment”. n

ugandans-lose-voice-digital-rights-in-pre-poll-blackout

n By Nita Bhalla nnnn NAIROBI, Jan 13 (Thomson Reuters Foundation) – Uganda’s ban on social media days before presidential elections shows a rattled president flexing power over the Internet at the expense of free speech and citizen rights, digital campaigners said on Wednesday. nnnn Tuesday’s ban by President Yoweri Museveni – who said he only acted because Facebook had removed accountsthat backed his National Resistance Movement (NRM) party – came two days before elections that opponents hope will end his 35 years in power. nnnn Campaigners said the mass switchoff – from Skype to Snapchat – robbed people of a voice in a blatant bid to cement the East African leader’s precarious hold on power. nnnn “The NRM government has increasingly become hostile to the dissenting opinions, and cracked down on the political opposition, civil society and media,” said Juliet Nanfuka from CIPESA, an organisation that promotes digital rights. nnnn “This democratic regression is likely to continue as opposition to Museveni’s 35-year regime mounts, and the digital sphere that is a source of mobilisation and information for ordinary citizens is unlikely to remain free.” nnnn Internet monitor NetBlocks said on Wednesday that connectivity had been shut down by government order across most of Uganda as of 7 p.m. local time, leaving citizens in an information vacuum on the eve of election. nnnn Thursday’s election pits 76-year-old Museveni – in power since 1986 – against singer-turned-lawmaker Robert Kyagulanyi, also known as Bobi Wine, who has gained huge popular support. nnnn Campaigning has been blighted by crackdowns on opposition rallies that have left more than 50 dead, and intimidation of some opposition candidates, their supporters and campaign staff. nnnn In the run-up to the election, digital rights researchers said they had witnessed an increasing campaign of misinformation online, leading to violence against opposition supporters, ordinary citizens and the media. nnnn They reported disruptions to platforms such as Google Play, with apps blocked from download, and growing attempts to silence social media accounts sympathetic to a restive opposition. nnnn On Tuesday, the sporadic campaign of interference was overtaken by an outright ban on social media sites, with Museveni apologising for any inconvenience. nnnn He said Uganda had no choice after Facebook took down a network linked to Uganda’s ministry of information for using fake and duplicate accounts ahead of the election. nnnn Nanfuka called it “a familiar electoral trend in Uganda”, recalling bans on social media and money transfers in 2016, censures of SMS in 2011’s polls, and a block as far back as 2006 of sites that criticised the government. nnnn Just last month, said Nanfuka, the government asked Google to block 14 YouTube channels seen as supportive of Wine. Google refused, saying that it would require a court order. nnnn TWEET-FREE nnnn The mass ban hit a slew of platforms, including Facebook, Twitter, WhatsApp, Instagram, Skype, Snapchat and Viber, according to Internet monitor NetBlocks. Authorities have not said how long the shutdown will last. nnnn According to DataReportal, there were 2.5 million social media users in Uganda in 2020 – almost 14% of the country’s 18 million registered voters. nnnn The ban came days after U.S. President Donald Trump was shut out of Twitter, showing the growing power of social media to mobilise political movements, often free from regulation. nnnn Researchers say the trends paint a concerning picture, especially as the pandemic has turned the Internet into a key avenue of engagement for many isolating Ugandans. nnnn Disrupting an online exchange of views not only raises concerns for democracy under COVID-19, they said, but reveals a trend for worsening digital rights and privacy under Museveni. nnnn The government has brought in a host of laws and policies that restrict digital rights, they said, be it conducting surveillance or intercepting private communication. nnnn Prominent critic Stella Nyanzi was charged under sections of the Computer Misuse Act, and sentenced to 18 months in jail after she wrote a Facebook post critical of Museveni. nnnn The government has also trained up staff and bought in technology to watch its population, be it to crack encrypted messages or track movements via facial recognition. nnnn Other measures include the licensing of online content, to include bloggers and broadcasters, and a tax on social media. nnnn Campaigners say authorities have also been reluctant to protect privacy online and ensure free access to information. nnnn “People can be surveyed without their knowledge. Their privacy is being invaded and personal data used without their consent,” said Allan Sempala Kigozi, head of legal at Unwanted Witness, a Ugandan digital rights group. nnnn “All in the interest of ‘national security’ according to the government, but it is used against critics.” n

tunisian-press-syndicate-criticize-police-overnight-arrest

n Tunisian police slapped and arrested a photojournalist working at night despite his having an authorisation to be out after curfew, the national press syndicate said on Wednesday amid criticism of the security forces’ handling of protests. nnnn Islem Hkiri, a freelance photographer, was charged with breaking curfew and assaulting a public servant. nnnn He had earlier published pictures of police using pepper spray during a recent surge of protests in Tunisia, a democracy since the 2011 revolution that inspired the “Arab spring”. Protesters have decried both inequality and police abuses. nnnn Security forces have arrested more than 1,200 people including many under the age of 18 and have widely used teargas against demonstrators. Although daytime protests have mostly been peaceful, those at night have involved repeated clashes with police as well as some looting. nnnn The Journalists’ Syndicate condemned police violence and asked the Interior Ministry for an immediate investigation. nnnn An Interior Ministry spokesman said he could not comment on a file in the hands of the judiciary. nnnn A judicial official was not immediately available for comment. nnnn Tunisian rights groups have criticised what they call the police’s aggressive handling of protesters and the arrest of bloggers. nnnn The opposition and activists also criticised the unprecedented security measures and restrictions on the freedom to demonstrate, and the closure of streets in the capital against protests on Tuesday. nnnn They accused the prime minister of seeking to restore a security state like that which existed before the 2011 uprising. Prime Minister Hichem Mechichi said the government wanted to protect property but would defend the right to protest, a freedom gained after revolution. nnnn A video showed a policeman firing tear gas at a man who appeared from his house during recent clashes. It sparked anger and doubts about the credibility of police reform over the past decade. – Thomson Reuters Foundation. n

congo-brazzaville-newspaper-editor-arrested

n The Editor of the weekly satirical newspaper, Raymond Malonga, aged 60, was arrested on 2 February on libel charges following the publication of an article about the wife of a high ranking official in Congo Brazzaville. The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) condemns this deliberate act of intimidation and harassment against the Congolese media and calls for respect for journalists’ independence. nnnn The satirical magazine Sal Piment, which is highly critical of the government of President Denis Sassou Nguesso, was suspended several weeks ago by the country’s media regulator, High Council for Freedom of Communication (CSLC). nnnn According to media reports, Raymond Malonga was arrested at a hospital in the capital city, Brazzaville where he was admitted for malaria treatment. He was taken to the capital’s main prison and held in a quarantine area for detainees with Covid-19. nnnn Journalists’ unions and human rights groups condemned the arrest of Raymond Malonga as an act of intimidation to silence the media, ahead of the presidential elections on 21 March. nnnn The General Secretary of the IFJ, Anthony Bellanger, said: “The IFJ condemns the arrest of Raymond Malonga, which seems to be a clear targeted reprisal for his work. We call on the Government of President Denis Sassou Nguesso to release him immediately and unconditionally and urge the authorities to guarantee freedom of information and expression before and during the incoming elections.” n

drc-journalist-pius-romain-rolland-ngoie-detained-since-december-over-criminal-defamation-complaint

n The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) has called on the Congolese authorities to immediately release journalist Pius Romain Rolland Ngoie and reform their country’s laws to decriminalize defamation. nnnn On December 22, 2020, judicial police arrested Ngoie, a reporter who covers the country’s parliament for the privately owned Depeche.CD news website, while he was at the office of the National Press Union of the Congo (UNPC) in Kinshasa, the capital, according to media reports, Jonas Ngalamulume and Bazin Mpembe, two lawyers representing Ngoie, and Mimie Engumba, the director general of Depeche.CD, all of whom spoke to CPJ in phone interviews. nnnn Authorities arrested Ngoie in response to a November 25 criminal defamation complaint filed by Albert Fabrice Puela, a local politician, who alleged that the journalist falsely accused him of demanding payment from another politician as blackmail, according to Mpembe and a copy of the complaint reviewed by CPJ. nnnn Ngoie’s accusations were made while he appeared as a guest on the YouTube-based political news and commentary show Non à la Balkanisation TV, according to Mpembe and a post on Puela’s Facebook page, which included a copy of the broadcast. Engumba told CPJ that in addition to his work for Depeche.CD, Ngoie frequently appears on commentary shows about politics and current events. nnnn On December 24, authorities transferred Ngoie from the custody of the public prosecutor to Makala Central Prison, also in Kinshasa, according to his lawyers. Article 74 of the Democratic Republic of the Congo’s penal code, which Puela referenced in his complaint, provides for a maximum prison term of one year and/or a fine for criminal defamation convictions. nnnn “Congolese authorities should unconditionally release journalist Pius Romain Rolland Ngoie and cease prosecuting him immediately,” said Angela Quintal, CPJ’s Africa program coordinator. “Decades after independence, the Democratic Republic of the Congo’s colonial-era criminal defamation laws remain a threat to press freedom. The country’s legislation should be reformed to protect, not jail, journalists.” nnnn Mpembe told CPJ that Ngoie and Puela reached a compromise on February 3, and that during a court hearing the same day the prosecutor requested the journalist be sentenced to two months in detention. Following another hearing today, Mpembe told CPJ by messaging app that a ruling on Ngoie’s case had been postponed, and they were waiting for a new court date. nnnn Jasbey Zegbia Wembulu, the secretary-general of the National Press Union of the Congo, an independent trade group, told CPJ over the phone that Puela had also filed a complaint against Ngoie with the Discipline and Professional Ethics Commission, a self-regulatory media body, and it was under review when he was arrested. nnnn On December 23, an official from the public prosecutor’s office interrogated Ngoie about his source for the blackmail allegations, which he refused to disclose, Zegbia Wembulu and the journalists’ lawyers said. nnnn In his November 25 complaint, Puela wrote, “These extremely serious comments are false across the board and seriously undermine my reputation,” and added that excerpts of the video featuring Ngoie had “gone viral” on social media. On December 23, Puela again denied the allegations in a post on his Facebook page. nnnn CPJ messaged Boku Mbaka, the prosecutor responsible for Ngoie’s case; the message was marked as read, but received no response. nnnn CPJ emailed and texted Puela for comment, but he did not respond. n

cameroon-silent-on-reports-that-detained-journalist-died-in-military-custody

n Unde animi quo maiores nihil alias beatae distinctio Beatae vel officia officia eum vel enim animi dolores. Error culpa quam corrupti cumque officiis ipsum. Ut..Unde animi quo maiores nihil alias beatae distinctio Beatae vel officia officia eum vel enim animi dolores. Error culpa quam corrupti cumque officiis ipsum. Ut..Unde animi quo maiores nihil alias beatae distinctio Beatae vel officia officia eum vel enim animi dolores. Error culpa quam corrupti cumque officiis ipsum. Ut.. n

locate-ibrahimo-abu-mbaruco-investigate-security-forces-role

nnn April 7, 2020, Mozambican journalist Imbrahim Abu Mbaruco sent a desperate text message. “Surrounded by soldiers,” he wrote, from the Capo Delgabo province. nnnn That was the last he was heard from or seen. nnnn Several organisations including the Committee for the Protection of Journalists, The African Editors Forum have called for a proper investigation into his disappearance and have called on the Mozambican authorities to hold those responsible accountable. nnnn Last year, the two organisations joined 17 others who wrote a joint letter to Mozambican president Felipe Nyusi, requesting justice for Mbaruco and his family. Nothing has happened ever since. nnnn To mark the anniversary of his disappearance, the organisations, supported by others, have renewed their calls for a probe. nnnnnn This is the full text of the letter: nnnn April 27, 2020 nnnn His Excellency the President of the Republic of Mozambique, Filipe Jacinto Nyusi Avenida Julius Nyerere, PABX 2000Maputo, Mozambique nnnn Your Excellency, nnnn Re: Open Letter of Concern on Declining Human Rights Situation in the Northern Province of Cabo Delgado, Mozambique. nnnn We, the undersigned civil society organizations write to express our grave concern with the deteriorating human rights situation in northern Mozambique, particularly reports of violence against citizens by state security forces including the Rapid Intervention Unit (UIR) and the Special Operations Group (GOE), as well as the harassment and intimidation by these same forces of civil society groups (CSOs) and journalists simply for doing their work in the region. We are especially concerned with the enforced ​disappearance on April 7, 2020, of radio journalist, Ibraimo Abú Mbaruco, whose last known communication was of being “surrounded by soldiers”.1 nnnn While we share the Mozambique government’s deep concern with the ongoing security crisis in Cabo Delgado, that has in recent months seen an ​alarming escalation of violence against residents and state infrastructures2, and recognize that the government has a right and duty to ensure the safety of citizens from insurgent attacks, we reiterate that an effective counter terrorism strategy must respect and affirm rights, including the right to freedom of expression and media freedom. nnnn On April 7, 2020, ​Mbaruco​, a young journalist with Palma Community Radio broadcaster was reported missing. He forcibly disappeared shortly after leaving work around 6pm. He sent a text message to his colleague that he was “surrounded by soldiers”.3 Mbaruco has not been seen or heard from since. His disappearance mirrors the case of journalist ​Amade Abubacar​, who was in nnnn 1Committee to Protect Journalists, Radio journalist Ibraimo ​Abú ​Mbaruco missing in Mozambique, April 17, 2020, available at https://cpj.org/2020/04/radio-journalist-ibraimo-mbaruco-missing-in-mozamb.php​. ​See​ also Media Institute of Southern Africa (Mozambique), Mozambican journalist, Ibraimo Abu Mbaruco Missing, April 10, 2020, available at https://misa.org/news/mozambican-journalist-missing/?fbclid=IwAR2uyRWI06v-7JzhrzNXSwhwQW4ezDanPmnZYCGWWDj CfSgYh4qo9fFwnYE​. nnnn 2 Amnesty International, Mozambique: Authorities must do all needed to lawfully protect people in Cabo Delgado, March 23, 2020, available athttps://www.amnesty.org/en/latest/news/2020/03/mozambique-authorities-must-do-all-needed-to-lawfully-protect-people-in-cabo -delgado/​. nnnn 3 Id. Supra note 1. nnnn January42019 arrested by soldiers and ​arbitrarily held in incommunicado detention for three months. nnnn Disturbing images have been circulating depicting state security forces of UIR and GOE stopping and assaulting passersby from Paquitequete neighborhood in the City of Pemba. On April 14, 2020, UIR and GOE forces detained for two hours the Pemba-based STV journalist, Hizidine Achá, ​confiscated his cellphone and forced him to delete images on his camera. The images showed the officers assaulting people.5 The brutal assault of people is in direct violation of the right to life, physical and mental integrity and the right to be free from torture, and other ill- treatment, as guaranteed under Article 40 (1) of Mozambique’s Constitution. nnnn Earlier, in March 2020, it was ​reported that the Defense and Security Forces (FDS) were carrying out “raids” against residents in the nine affected districts of northern Mozambique, by stopping and interrogating individuals, subjecting them to arbitrary searches, and arresting any individuals whose electronic device contained audio messages or information on WhatsApp, Facebook or Twitter, relating to the attacks.6 Non-governmental organizations’ workers and journalists have been the primary targets of these actions. nnnn These “raids” coupled with repeated restrictions on journalists attempting to cover the situation in the region corroborate conclusions of a systematic and deliberate effort to restrict access to information about the extent of the crisis in Cabo Delgado. We respectfully remind the government of Mozambique of the ​critical role that the right to freedom of expression and media freedom, can play in promoting equality, combating intolerance, and keeping people informed​.7 nnnn The security forces recently imposed an undeclared and therefore unjustified ​curfew from 7 pm to 5 am, in Pemba claiming that Paquitequete residents hide “insurgents” by allowing them to infiltrate groups of internally displaced persons who have fled attacks from the neighboring areas of Mocímboa da Praia, Macomia, Quissanga, Quirimbas, and Ibo island.8 The night curfew has also been reported in Palma city. nnnn There is a ​crisis in Mozambique that grows more sophisticated by the day. Since the violence began in 2017, over ​900 people have been killed and ​hundreds of thousands displaced. The humanitarian crisis has been exacerbated by the continuing effects of ​Cyclone Kenneth and now nnnn 4 American Bar Association, Center for Human Rights, Preliminary concerns on the arrest and detention of Mozambican Journalist, Amade Abubacar, January 11, 2018, available at https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B8HSIbsQeYKQNnIzTjYtRkpmZTRpX0F0bHBFQklnX2p1ZVA4/view​.5 Zitmar News, Palma journalist still missing as police continue harassment in Cabo Delgado, April 15, 2020, available at https://zitamar.com/palma-journalist-still-missing-as-police-continue-harassment-in-cabo-delgado/ nnnn 6 Carta de Mozambique, Attacks in Cabo Delgado: SDS hands out “combs” to citizens and military personnel in the nine affected districts, March 12, 2020, available at https://cartamz.com/index.php/politica/item/4645-ataques-em-cabo-delgado-fds-passam-pente-fino-a-cidadaos-e-militares-nos-no ve-distritos-afectadosp​. nnnn 7 U.N Office of the High Commissioner, ​Joint Declaration on Freedom of Expression and Countering Violent Extremism,https://www.ohchr.org/EN/NewsEvents/Pages/DisplayNews.aspx?NewsID=19915&LangID=E​.8 Financial Times, Mozambique’s Islamist insurgency adds to gas industry nerves, April 21, 2020,available at https://www.ft.com/content/c6e7bdba-bd0e-4be9-983e-3cdc54237fb8​. nnnn the challenges presented by the global ​COVID-19 pandemic.9 It is concerning that Mozambique’s response to the insurgent threats has been ​marred by allegations of human rights violations and abuses including extra judicial killings, arbitrary arrests and denial of access to information about what is happening in Cabo Delgado.10 It is not surprising that this has ​resulted in concerns of alienation and mistrust in the communities. We echo warnings by ​United Nations Special Rapporteur on the Promotion and Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms while Countering Terrorism, Ms. Fionnuala ​Ní Aoláin, “[m]any violent extremism prevention … Read more

tanzania-500-days-since-the-disappearance-of-journalist-azory-gwanda

n Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse cillum dolore eu fugiat nulla pariatur. Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat non proident, sunt in culpa qui officia deserunt mollit anim id est laborum. n

Login to your account