Media Foundation for West Africa (MFWA)

September saw protests and internet disruptions in Togo and Cameroon, an initiative to increase gender diversity in Nigeria’s tech and media community, and an access to information report that could help countries work towards the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals.

The Media Foundation for West Africa has identified lack of effective internet-specific legal frameworks, inadequate infrastructure and high cost of data as major challenges in the internet sector in West Africa.

A High Court in Niger on September 11, 2017 granted provisional release to Ali Soumana, director of publication of a private weekly newspaper, Le Courrier, after more than two months in detention.

The Media Foundation for West Africa (MFWA) in partnership with the Liberia-based Center for Media Studies and Peace Building (CEMESP) is implementing a rapid response intervention aimed at addressing media safety issues before, during and after the 2017 elections in Liberia.

The second quarter report of the MFWA’s Free Expression Monitor for 2017 (April-June) recorded 33 violations, down from the 47 recorded during the first quarter (January-March). However, the freedom of expression environment in the sub-region still faces formidable challenges with perpetrators of violations enjoying absolute impunity.

Social media platforms were made completely inaccessible in Togo as opposition groups embarked on demonstrations demanding political reform.

The region’s free expression news round-up includes lethal protests in Togo and Kenya, calls for release of an RFI correspondent in Cameroon, a creative campaign that is holding Nigeria’s presidency accountable for freedom of information, and more.

Police in Togo cracked down on protestors demanding term limits on the presidency and an end to the “Gnassingbé dynasty.” Officials say 2 protestors were killed, while the opposition reported 7 deaths.