The 3rd of May is set aside every year to celebrate journalism and to evaluate press freedom across the globe. It was adopted by UNESCO in 1991 as a day to defend the independence of the media and to honour the journalists who have lost their lives in the course of their profession. The theme of this year’s celebration, which is hosted by Finland, is – ‘Access to Information and Fundamental Freedoms: This Is Your Right!’ However, as hundreds of countries celebrate this day across the globe, Africa may not be so enthusiastic.
Journalism is not an easy profession worldwide, however, Africa has it tougher than most, thanks to its sit-tight leaders; who, in a bid to retain power and control over their countries, bar access to information. Secrecy is encouraged by sit-tight leaders in order to avoid criticism and discussions on their activities. In order to preserve this, attacks are launched on journalists whose job is to inform the public and denounce the government’s shady activities. With regular reports of journalists and news bloggers being assaulted, kidnapped, jailed and killed, there is a decline in press freedom. Today, the world celebrates and affirms access to information as a primary right, but in Africa, that right comes at a great cost.
Eritrea
Ranked as the lowest on the Global Press Freedom Index (GPFI), with the highest number of jailed journalists in the world, Eritrea will probably be celebrating press restriction rather than its freedom today. The government banned the private broadcast media in 1996, therefore all the information available to the Eritrean public is government censored.
Sudan
According to a report by the Freedom House, Sudanese journalists face harassment, attacks, arbitrary arrests and detention. Although Sudan has a lot of media outlets, authorities allegedly maintain a tight grip on them and issue censorship directives. Sudan ranks 174 on the GPFI.
Djibouti
This East African country, at 172, ranks lower than it did last year. All its media is government controlled. With limited access to the internet, it is increasingly difficult to operate independent or privately owned media in the country.
Equatorial Guinea
The Equatorial Guinean president, Teodoro Obiang Nguema, has spent close to four decades in office. That has only been possible because journalists are not allowed to criticize the president or his interests. Media houses that do not comply with the government directives risk imprisonment. Equatorial Guinea ranks at 168.
Somalia
The Human Rights Watch report claims that both the Somali government and al-Shabaab (the terrorist group) are using abusive tactics to sway media coverage. The lives of journalists are in danger and in order to avoid the impending peril, over the last decade, dozens of them have fled the country. Somalia ranks at 167.
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