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Press freedom: Journalists working in increasingly intolerant conditions

Monday May 04 2015
177731-01-02

Burundian journalists cover their mouths with black tape during a press conference to mark World Press Freedom Day at the offices of the Iwacu Media Group in Bujumbura, Burundi, on May 3, 2015. " AFP PHOTO | PHIL MOORE

Even as the world marks World Press Freedom Day, it has emerged that journalists are operating in an environment that is becoming increasingly intolerant.

Governments across Africa have heightened efforts of reigning in the media and limiting free speech.

In East Africa alone, around 25 journalists have been interrogated by the police and security agencies.

In Kenya, since January 2015, at least 20 newspapers have had editions of their publications confiscated on 45 different occasions by the country’s National Intelligence and Security Service.

In January 24, the leading regional newspaper, The EastAfrican was been banned from circulation in Tanzania, 20 years after it was launched to cover the region for 'circulating in the country without being properly registered, contrary to section 6 of the Newspaper Act number 3 of 1976’.

In Burundi, the Government has this past week prevented private radio stations Isanganiro, Bonesha and Radio Publique Africaine (RPA) from broadcasting live coverage of the protests against decision by the incumbent Pierre Nkurunziza to run for a third term.

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The RPA is now shut down, together with mobile access to Facebook, Twitter and WhatsApp with the government accusing the media of inciting an insurrectional movement.

READ: Protest-hit Burundi cuts mobile social network access

“A number of media outlets have come under direct attack from their governments, facing intimidation and harassment, with some media houses being shut down.

“We have seen systematic attacks against journalists during election periods. This must stop,” said Muthoni Wanyeki, Amnesty International’s Director for East Africa.

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