Africa Freedom of Information Centre (AFIC)

Work of various African organisations and governments helped lead the way to last week’s inaugural International Day for Universal Access to Information.

Reporter Abdiasis Mohammed Ali was shot on 27 September 2016, on his way to visit his uncle in Mogadishu. Ali had worked with Radio Shabelle for more than seven years and was arrested on several occasions by the police and the National Intelligence and Security Agency in connection with his work as a journalist.

On 14 September 2016, five Internet users were arraigned before a Tanzanian Court on charges of insulting President John Magufuli on social media.

Live bullets rained down on protestors gathered to repudiate the postponement of DRC elections. Government officials report 32 deaths, but opposition tally tells a much grimmer story.

The African Freedom of Expression Exchange (AFEX) held its 4th Annual General Meeting in Grahamstown, South Africa, on 31 August 2016. The AGM was preceded by a two-day capacity building workshop on Digital Rights Advocacy, as a follow up to a similar workshop held in Ghana in January 2016.

Following an outcry by the local and international community, including a statement issued by the African Freedom of Expression Exchange (AFEX), Alfred Taban was granted bail on 29 July 2016.

On July 16, 2016, agents of the National Security Service arrested Alfred Taban, Editor-in-Chief of Juba Monitor, an independent English language daily newspaper in South Sudan. The security service accused the journalist of inciting violence, and consequently shutdown the Juba Monitor on the same day.

The peculiar case of a radio worker in secret detention in the Congo who is accused of both spying for Rwanda and aiming to destabilize Burundi.