Center for Media Studies & Peace Building (CEMESP)

Articles by Center for Media Studies & Peace Building (CEMESP)

Journalists queue for a security sweep outside the venue of the presidential vote at the airport in Mogadishu, 8 February 2017, REUTERS/Feisal Omar

African free expression network concerned for safety of journalists in Somalia

Between 25 January and 1 April 2017, a total of 11 journalists and one media organisation have been attacked in Somalia, making it one of the most dangerous places to be a journalist in Africa.

Nursultan Nazarbayev, President of Kazakhstan.

Kazakhstan must treat editor Zhanbolat Mamay fairly

Members of IFEX wrote an open letter on behalf of Kazakh Editor Zhanbolat Mamay, calling for a fair and impartial handling of charges against him and full investigation into his mistreatment in prison and threats made to his family.

In this photo taken on 2 October 2016, Ethiopian soldiers try to stop protesters in Bishoftu, Ethiopia, AP Photo

Ethiopia, DRC & Mali: 183 killed in protests between July-December 2016

A total of 183 deaths were recorded from July to December 2016 following clashes between protestors and security agents in Ethiopia, Democratic Republic of Congo and Mali. To date, not one security agent has been prosecuted for any of the killings in the three countries.

Protesters are detained by district authorities as they demonstrate in support of land rights activist Tep Vanny during her verdict in front of the Phnom Penh Municipal Court in central Phnom Penh, Cambodia, 23 February 2017, REUTERS/Samrang Pring

Cambodia failing to protect human rights defenders ahead of elections

78 civil society groups condemn the crackdown on dissent in the lead up to elections in Cambodia and call on the government to cease their unlawful attacks on human rights defenders.

Anti-corruption activist Abdul Fatoma at a conference in London, England, 2016, AFEX

Sierra Leone authorities arrest anti-corruption activist, confiscate passport

On 31 January 2017, anti-corruption activist Abdul Fatoma was arrested without a warrant, shortly after speaking on the radio about a national corruption scandal. Police confiscated Fatoma’s passport the following day.

Bill Zimmerman/Flickr/Creative Commons License http://bit.ly/1jLaq0w

39 days on, English internet still blocked in Cameroon

Internet shut down in two anglophone regions follows protests over government decision to impose French in schools and courts.

A man listens to elections results on his FM radio in Kampala, Uganda, 19 February 2016, REUTERS/James Akena

A message to Africa on World Radio Day

On World Radio Day, members of the African Freedom of Expression Exchange (AFEX) send an audio message calling on governments in the region to ensure that radio operates freely and independently.

English speaking lawyers protest against the Cameroon government, November 2016, Nation Media Group

Cameroon responds to free expression concerns with…an Internet shut down

Tensions continue to rise after the government cracks down on dissent following its decision to introduce the use of French language in courts and schools in English-speaking regions.