Free Speech in Africa
“The conditions of press freedom and freedom of expression are deteriorating rapidly or systematically in all regions of Africa.”
So says the Network of African Freedom of Expression Organizations (NAFEO). At a June meeting in Lagos, Nigeria NAFEO took note of significant increase in the arrests, detention, repression and harassment of journalists and other media professionals, singling out six countries for particular opprobrium:
• The Gambia
• Ethiopia
• Eritrea
• Zimbabwe
• Tunisia, and
• Swaziland
NAFEO is planning a campaign to pressure governments to repeal laws criminalizing press offenses and to free individuals who have been detained or imprisoned for exercising their free speech rights. We will keep you posted.
