VARIOUS/FILE: Reporters Without Borders says certain African leaders still 'predators' of press freedom

Record ID: 454461

  • Title: VARIOUS/FILE: Reporters Without Borders says certain African leaders still 'predators' of press freedom
  • Date: 3rd May 2011
  • Summary: HARARE, ZIMBABWE (FILE) (ORIGINALLY 4:3) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF ZIMBABWEAN PRESIDENT, ROBERT MUGABE WALKING
  • Embargoed: 18th May 2011 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Zimbabwe, France
  • City:
  • Country: Various
  • Topics: Communications,International Relations
  • Reuters ID: LVAC4IDMR6HPBTGTZ1WNRU2O48S2
  • Story Text: As the world marks Press Freedom day, journalists in many parts of Africa still work under government restrictions in countries like Zimbabwe, Swaziland, Gambia and Eritrea.
    Long time leaders in these countries have been listed as "predators" of press freedom in a report released by Reporters without Borders (RSF).
    In Zimbabwe, critics say president Robert Mugabe has used tough security and media laws to hold onto power. Dozens of journalists have been arrested or deported in past years and foreign journalists have been banned from basing their operations in the country.
    President Yahya Jammeh's Gambia, has been named by various media watchdogs as having one of the worst press freedom records in west Africa. In a report by the International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) Eritrea, Somalia, the Democratic Republic of Congo and Gambia were said to be the most repressive for african Journalists to work in.
    Equatorial Guinea's president Teodor Obiang has also in the past been accused by of clamping down on free media.
    RSF said the Arab world has seen "the most important changes" this year after the ousting of Tunisia's president Zine el-Abidine Ben Ali, who maintained heavy restrictions on media.
    RSF head Jean-Francois Julliard speaking in France on Press Freedom Day said that the revolution witnessed in Tunisia could inspire journalists working in other parts of Africa to fight against repression and force leaders to rethink their policy on the media.
    "Journalists had a look at what happened in Tunisia, journalists all over the world and especially in Africa maybe want to gain the same freedom and they want to fight against censorship with more strength than ever, and at the same time African governments are very careful about what could happen in their own country," said Julliard.
    "We have the feeling that freedom of expression is going to change very quickly in African countries, but there are still some predators for press freedom in Africa. We could speak about the president of Zimbabwe, Mr. Mugabe, the King of Swaziland, the President of Eritrea which is one of the worst country in the world for press freedom, we could speak about islamic militias in Somalia, as well, which kill some journalists every year. We still have to fight for press freedom in Africa," he said.
    Activists say pro-democracy protests against King Mswati in Swaziland's were inspired by demonstrations in North Africa, where protesters in places like Egypt and Libya demanded their longtime leaders step down.
    Several reporters were detained and prevented from reporting on those protests last month.
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