Media Institute of Southern Africa (MISA)

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.

A large group of media and human rights organisations has successfully petitioned the African Court on Human and Peoples’ Rights for leave to act as amicus curiae, or friends of the court, in a case which raises the use of criminal defamation and insult laws to silence government critics.

On 29 November, Midweek Sun photographer Tshekiso Tebalo was assaulted by Mochudi Center Chiefs’ football team official, Sebele Morakanyane, at the University of Botswana Stadium, as he covered a game between the Mochudi Center Chiefs and the Township Rollers.

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.

Dozens of media freedom groups are calling on the Prime Minister of Somalia to rescind the arbitrary eviction order currently faced by the Shabelle Media Network. The eviction would place Radio Shabelle staff in immediate physical danger.

Photojournalist Walter Dlamini was photographing police brutality during a protest when an “officer pointed a shotgun at Dlamini’s face and demanded why he [was taking] pictures of the officers who were at work”.

Tanzanian media houses have resolved to dissociate themselves from any government activity performed by the Minister of Information until further notice. The decision was made following the government’s failure to respond to the media fraternity’s appeal to lift the ban on three major newspapers.

Tanzania’s Information Services Director said that newspapers Mwananchi and Mtanzania were banned because they carried articles which were likely to force citizens to mistrust their government.