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Freedom of the Press: The Situation Worsened in Africa in 2013

Freedom of the press 615w (att World Bank Photo Collection)

French Translation of the Week

Freedom of the press is not always guaranteed in Africa.  According to Reporters without Borders (RSF), the situation became aggravated last year, especially in Central African Republic and Mali.

La liberté de la presse n'est toujours pas garantie en Afrique. Selon Reporters sans frontières (RSF), la situation s'est aggravée l'année dernière, notamment en Centrafrique et au Mali.

This article has been translated from French. Click here to read the original version on Jeune Afrique.

The media's freedom in Africa deteriorated significantly in 2013.  This is what was revealed in the 2014 report from Reports without Borders (RSF), which became public on Wednesday, February 12.  Among the principal dark facts about the continent, it is unsurprising that the Central African Republic, which presented the most drastic decline, placed 109th out of 180 countries.  It lost 43 places, "due to a year marked by extreme violence and repeated attacks and threats against journalists," clarifies RSF.

Mali also continued to fall and placed 122nd in the rankings.  "The conflict in the north of the country is stuck and prevents a real recovery of the media," explains RSF.  The UN also distinguished Chad (139th), alluding to the arrests and prosecutions against journalists, as well as Kenya, where the state could have shut down the media landscape following the coverage of the attack on Westgate.

Rare Progress

A few rare successes should be given credit.  "In Egypt (159th), the military removal of President Morsi liberated a whole new wave of media, formerly silenced by the Muslim Brotherhood," the report explains, which puts this advance into perspective, as there is still a "hunt for journalists who are close to the brotherhood."

Finally, RSF praises the South African case, who advanced 11th places in the rankings, ultimately earning 42nd worldwide.  The president, Jacob Zuma, refused to sign a law which would have killed the freedom of the media.  This particularly orchestrated the pursuit for justice of people who sought to reveal information about corruption or incompetence in the public's interest.

The 10 African countries where the media circumstances are the best:

Namibia (22nd), Cape Verde (24th), Ghana (27th), Botswana (41st), South Africa (42nd), Niger (48th), Burkina Faso (52nd), Comoros (53rd), Mauritania (60th), Senegal (62nd)

The 10 African countries where the media circumstances are the worst:

Eritrea (180th), Somalia (176th), Sudan (172nd), Djibouti (169th), Equatorial Guinea (168th), Rwanda (162nd), Egypt (159th), Swaziland (156th), Gambia (155th), Democratic Republic of the Congo (151st)

Photo credit: Jeune Afrique

Article translated by Allie Stauss, Staff Intern for the Africa Program at the Wilson Center.

Photo courtesy of the World Bank Photo Collection via Flickr.

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Africa Program

The Africa Program works to address the most critical issues facing Africa and US-Africa relations, build mutually beneficial US-Africa relations, and enhance knowledge and understanding about Africa in the United States. The Program achieves its mission through in-depth research and analyses, public discussion, working groups, and briefings that bring together policymakers, practitioners, and subject matter experts to analyze and offer practical options for tackling key challenges in Africa and in US-Africa relations.    Read more