Media Foundation for West Africa (MFWA)

A county court in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso, sentenced Boureima Ouédraogo, the managing editor of Le Reporter, to three months in prison over his reporting on a legal case.

In a “letter from the grave” written on behalf of human rights defenders, journalists, students and activists, Gambian president Yahya Jammeh is confronted on the human rights violations committed with impunity under his 21-year rule.

In light of the International Day in Support of Victims of Torture, the Media Foundation for West Africa is highlighting the story Musa Saidykhan, who, in 2006, was arrested and tortured by Gambian security forces for exercising his right to free expression.

June 5th marked seven years since the ECOWAS Community Court of Justice ordered the government of The Gambia to release “Chief” Ebrima Manneh, a journalist who has been missing since July 2006. Unfortunately, Manneh’s whereabouts remain unknown.

June 10 2015 marked one year since the ECOWAS Community Court of Justice ordered The Gambia to pay $50,000 in damages to the family of Deyda Hydara, who was murdered over ten years ago. The Gambia has not complied with this judgment.

Four years after Sierra Leone Journalist Ibrahim Foday’s death, members of IFEX join the Media Foundation for West Africa in calling for more rapid progress.

On World Press Freedom Day, organisations from around the globe commit to defending the right to freedom of expression, even when that right is being used to express views that may be offensive.

Concerns include the use of Malaysia’s Sedition Act to suppress legitimate criticism of government and courts.