Press freedom tested in Africa by coronavirus epidemic

Text by: RFI Follow

This Sunday, May 3, marks World Press Day. In 2020, 21 out of 48 African countries still appear in red or black on the map of the world press freedom ranking published by the NGO Reporters Without Borders (RSF). On the continent as elsewhere, the coronavirus crisis often serves as a revealer.

Publicity

In its world ranking of press freedom , the NGO Reporters Without Borders (RSF) indicated that the coming decade promises to be decisive for the practice of journalism on the African continent.

Endless trials in Morocco, regular arrests and prolonged provisional detentions in Algeria, Libyan media which are becoming actors in the armed conflict ... RSF particularly deplores a climate of intimidation against journalists, who struggle to deliver information in a free and independent in the Maghreb countries, and in particular, to cover the Covid-19 health crisis.

“  With the Covid-19, the authorities are increasing the obstacles to the work of journalists. In Tunisia, several journalists have lost their jobs, the media pretending to be the economic crisis hitting the country with the Covid-19,  ”points out for example Souhaieb Khayati, RSF manager for the Maghreb countries.

► To read also: Pierre Haski (RSF): faced with the pandemic, "quality information is essential"

In Algeria, press freedom is deteriorating amid the suspension of the popular movement Hirak and the coronavirus crisis, with journalists in detention and censorship of online media, also worries the human rights defender. "  In Algeria, it is a boon for the regime, " he said . He is settling his accounts behind closed doors with free and independent journalism and media. Our correspondent Khaled Drareni [figure in the Hirak movement, editor's note], has been incarcerated for 35 days, and the same for Sofiane Merakchi, journalist and figure of the Hirak, who has also been incarcerated since September 2019. They are accused of doing their job as journalists. That’s all they are accused of. So the Covid-19 allows strong regimes in the region to do away with contestation, even with normal journalism.  "

Targeted harassment of independent media, some of which have been accused by the authorities of being funded by "  foreign organizations  ", is also criticized by defenders of freedom of expression. Three Algerian online media were targeted for censorship: two sites from the Interface Médias group, Maghreb Emergent and web radio Radio M, and the general information site Interlignes.

Five journalists arrested during the coronavirus epidemic

On World Press Day, Human Rights Watch also draws attention to the climate of intimidation against journalists in Somalia. HRW denounces the closure of a media outlet and the arrest of five journalists who covered the Covid-19 crisis.

"  Somalia is a country that is currently affected by the virus and we have seen, for the past two weeks in particular, a fairly significant increase in cases. So, it is absolutely important and essential that journalists can work on these questions, underlines Laetitia Bader, senior researcher in the Africa division of HRW. We saw, for example, the case of a young journalist who wanted to cover a demonstration that took place following police violence linked to government policy on the virus, who was arrested and whose photos were taken. removed right away. We have seen other cases of journalists who spent several days in police detention centers, but who were also sent to prison. It is absolutely essential that the government recognize the essential role of journalists in the country, but also recognize the difficulty in which they work and allow them to do their essential work.  "

In its annual ranking, RSF also drew attention to the Comoros and Benin, where attacks on press freedom have multiplied, while the situation has improved in Sudan thanks to the revolution.

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• Africa
• Media
• Human rights
• Algeria
• Somalia

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