Centre for Media and Society (CEMESO)

Unidentified gunmen shot and killed Famous Giobaro on 16 April 2017 at his residence in Yenagoa, a local government area in the Bayelsa State of Nigeria.

Independent journalist Abdimalik Muse Oldon was accused of allegedly making comments against Somaliland’s president while expressing support for the president of Somalia on social media.

2017 is turning out to be a hopeful year for Uganda, as justice is finally being served for numerous violations against journalists.

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.

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.

Over 70 rights and expression organisations worldwide entreated the UN Human Rights Council’s 34th session to call on Turkey to take immediate steps to address the ongoing free expression crisis in the country.

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.

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.