Media Foundation for West Africa (MFWA)

To welcome Benin’s new president, Patrice Talon, MFWA presents highlights in one of the critical areas that he must focus his attention on – enhancing and protecting the right of citizens to freely express themselves.

A letter from two US senators is asking President Jammeh to release journalist Alhagie Abdoulie Ceesay, who is being held under questionable charges and harsh conditions since his arrest nine months ago.

At the West Africa Conference on Media and Participatory Governance, participants deplored the continuous attacks on journalists and the impunity with which such crimes are committed. Participants also noted that more countries in the region have yet to pass right to information laws.

Free expression organisations join the Media Foundation for West Africa in calling on African regional body to pressure The Gambia to release journalist Alhagie Abdoulie Ceesay.

This year, the MFWA will implement a special elections campaign dubbed “Issues Not Insults” under its project “Promoting Decent Language and Issues-based Campaigning for Peaceful Elections in Ghana in 2016.”

The media are critical for the success of every election. As Ugandans prepare to vote in the general elections on 18 February, The African Freedom of Expression Exchange calls on security agencies to protect all stakeholders, especially the media, and allow them to carry out their duties without intimidation or interference.

Over 40 human rights groups and more than 75 international cartoonists are calling for leniency for Atena Farghadani, an Iranian cartoonist currently wrongfully jailed.

Representatives of 19 of the most prominent freedom of expression organisations in Africa have been equipped with knowledge, skills and strategies needed to engage stakeholders on digital rights issues, following a two-day capacity building workshop organised by the African Freedom of Expression Exchange.