Media Foundation for West Africa (MFWA)

Following the criminalisation of peaceful protest in Egypt in November 2013, 57 organisations and individuals release joint statement against arrests of Egyptian bloggers and political activists.

Within the last six months, at least five senior journalists have been arrested and detained by Sierra Leone’s police at the instance of government officials.

IFEX members are calling on the president of Romania to veto proposed changes to the penal code passed by Parliament that would recriminalise insult and libel.

Representatives of freedom of expression organisations in Africa that are members of IFEX met in Accra, Ghana, on 9 and 10 December 2013 to develop a framework for regional networking in Africa.

IFEX members strongly condemn recent attacks on journalists during public demonstrations in Kyiv and call for those responsible to be held accountable.

Police arrested two journalists for Canal 3 for filming a demonstration at the University of Abomey-Calavi. 17 students and one head of department were injured by tear gas and bullets fired by police.

Police opened fire and tear gas on demonstrators who had gathered outside Planète FM in response to a call from the director of the station. The director asked listeners to protect him from people who he alleged were planning to assassinate him.

Mass Kah was arrested without charge after reportedly saying that the leader of the People’s Democratic Organisation for Independence and Socialism party was “the only man who wears trousers in The Gambia.”