Media Foundation for West Africa (MFWA)

A High Court in The Gambia has sentenced exiled journalist and manager of Taranga FM, Alhagie Abdoulie Ceesay, to a total of four years imprisonment.

The Media Foundation for West Africa and other 35 civil society organisations have petitioned ECOWAS over The Gambia’s continued refusal to comply with judgments on rights violations against three journalists.

The African Freedom of Expression Exchange (AFEX) has petitioned President Salva Kiir over the closure of the country’s leading private paper, The Nation Mirror. In September, the National Security Service ordered the indefinite closure of The Nation Mirror without any explanation.

In the lead up to Ghana’s elections, the MFWA is monitoring radio programmes to track the use of hate speech by politicians and activists.

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.