‘Backsliding’ on media freedom in Africa

Out of these statistics, Africa accounts for 43 cases, while the bulk of these casualties of freedom of speech rest with China (82 cases), Iraq (22 cases) and Cuba (26 cases).

So far, Eritrea (15) and Ethiopia (13) are the worst countries in Africa for persecuting journalists, distantly followed by Rwanda with three.

Mammoth battle

The latest cases in Zimbabwe (murder of cameraman Edward Chikomba), Israel (abduction of BBC correspondent Alan Johnston by armed men in Gaza since 12 March) and Rwanda’s Agnes Nkusi-Uwimana (sentenced for a year for publishing a reader’s letter deemed critical of the government) clearly reinforce the notion that the media are up against a mammoth battle to protect the free flow of information.

A country such as Botswana, once seen as a rare model of peace and stability in Africa, is little by little following in the footsteps of the Democratic of Congo, Ethiopia and Gambia –deemed by the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) as ‘backsliders’, because of the continuous deterioration of freedom of expression.

“Slowly but surely we are degenerating into that typical African state that most people out there have in their minds,” media activist Thapelo Ndlovu told Reuters.

According to Reuters, Botswana last month banned 17 people, mostly foreign journalists and human rights activists – including BBC editor John Simpson – from entering the country.

“Democracy’s foothold in Africa is shallow when it comes to press freedom,” CPJ executive director Joel Simon said in a report to mark World Press Freedom Day.

Moving in reverse

“These three African countries [Ethiopia, DRC and Gambia], as diverse as they are, have won praise at times for their transition to democracy – but they are actually moving in reverse on press issues,” Simon said on the website www.cpj.org.

“I firmly believe that it is the abuse of responsibilities and power from certain authorities and governments who would not just tolerate the truth for fear it might affect their hidden agendas,” said Denis Kayenge, a DRC author and journalist, who nearly paid for his life while investigating the motive and culprits behind Laurent Desire Kabila’s assassination in 2001.

“The world is ruled by the power of guns, intimidation and bombs, which according to these rulers are a lethal weapon capable of stopping whoever dares to uncover and publish their confidential and macabre agendas.”

Kayenge, who fled to South Africa via Brazzaville to avoid being detained and tortured by Congolese secret police, added: “I am appalled by the lack of protection of the media by the international community in today’s modern world despite all these litanies of so-called liberties and laws of freedom.”

‘Great injustices’

But, despite all the misfortunes and risks associated to the job, Robert Frisk, a well-respected western reporter, was quoted as saying that journalists need to raise their voices to oppose what he called ‘great injustices’.

DRC exiled author Kayenge echoed Frisk’s sentiments. “Regardless of the difficulties and obstacles we encounter day after day, journalists must seek the truth at all costs to inform and educate the masses to ensure that certain misbehaviours and abuses are exposed to force changes in society.”

Kayenge, who is now based in Johannesburg and on the verge of publishing his first book titled Rulership of Congo – What a big joke, told Bizcommunity.com that he continues to receive death threats on a regular basis, allegedly made by people opposed by his free-thinking views.