By Paul Ndiho
May 3, 2012
The 2012 freedom of the
press report released today says that out 197 countries assessed during 2011, a
total of 66 countries were rated free, 72 were rated partly free and 59
countries were rated not free at all.
The state of press freedoms
in Africa continued to be a hot topic in 2011.
More than 13 African countries introduced new legislation last year that
restricted press freedoms and allowed regimes to control domestic media. The
report released by freedom house, a media watch dog based in Washington, DC
says 10 percent of counties in sub-Saharan Africa were rated free, 47 percent
partly free-- and 43% not free. The
horn of Africa was cited for the worst in attacks against the press on the
continent, with Eritrea jailing 28 journalists - the most in Africa. Ethiopia ranked among the top 10 oppressors
of internet journalists and some are currently on trial on terrorism charges. Somalia
is Horn of Africa’s deadliest nation for the media; at least five journalists have
been assassinated.
Angolan government introduced a bill that
would criminalize the use of social media, electronic dissemination of
"recordings, pictures, and video" of any individual without the
subject's consent.
In Cameroon, the government
detains journalists for investigating official misconduct, demonizes social
media users and criminalizes certain online speech.
The democratic republic of
the Congo – DRC made the list too and attacks on the press hit a five-year,
all-time high in November 2011. Attacks
on the press were concentrated in the capital, Kinshasa, and surrounding areas.
Equatorial Guinea, did not
pretend either the authorities imposed a news blackout on coverage of Arab
uprisings and the use of Social Media
In Gambia, a radio station
is forced to eliminate news, leaving no independent broadcasters and the
whereabouts of reporter detained by the government remain a mystery
Ivory Coast, did not fare
well either because of partisan media outlets, journalists were attacked in
presidential power struggle. Ouattara
pledged reconciliation, but his government retaliated against Pro-Gbagbo media.
Rwanda was cited as one of
the worst place for independent journalists. Two independent journalists received
lengthy prison sentences and journalists working for independence continue to
flee the country.
In South Africa the anti-press
rhetoric by the African National Congress - ANC, several assaults on
journalists were reported and, ruling party pushed through a secrecy bill
Nationwide Uganda protests
over "walk to work" demonstrations led to anti-press attacks and
censorship, two journalists shot, dozens assaulted. The government security
forces continue to assault opposition leaders and innocent civilians.
In Zimbabwe official media
harassment is down slightly, but restrictive laws and regulations against
journalists remain. Government raised accreditation fees, but moves slowly on
issuing private broadcast licenses
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