Kenyan Standard’s Alex Kiprotich seized by armed men after escaping earlier attack
Nairobi, September 4, 2026—The Committee to Protect Journalists calls on Kenyan authorities to ensure a credible investigation into Tuesday’s seizure of Standard Group editor Alex Kiprotich by armed men whom local media allege were police officers. The five-hour incident followed a similar attack on June 27, when Kiprotich’s car was intercepted by men with guns…
CPJ urges Benin’s president to strengthen press freedom
The Committee to Protect Journalists has urged Beninese President Romuald Wadagni to take decisive measures to protect press freedom, in a letter marking his first 100 days in office. The letter highlights Benin’s deteriorating press freedom record in recent years, including the July 2025 arrest of Comlan Hugues Sossoukpè, publishing director of the privately owned…
Ugandan journalist Remmy Asiteza detained on `fake news’ charges
Nairobi, August 27, 2026—The Committee to Protect Journalists calls on Ugandan authorities to immediately and unconditionally release journalist Remmy Asiteza, who has been charged with publishing “fake news” in connection to his coverage of corruption allegations in the ministry of the presidency. Asiteza was arrested on August 13 in the capital, Kampala, and appeared in…
In rebel-controlled eastern DRC, political coverage banned, journalist Claude Kashonga suspended
Kinshasa, August 25, 2026—The Committee to Protect Journalists calls on rebel authorities controlling part of the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo to lift the restrictions that prohibit media outlets in South Kivu province from broadcasting or publishing political content. Local regulatory authorities should also reverse their decision to suspend a Bukavu FM political program…
2 French journalists, Togolese fixer detained 26 days following arrest while documentary filming in northern Togo
Dakar, August 21, 2026—The Committee to Protect Journalists calls on Togolese authorities to drop the charges against French journalists Sebastian Perez Pezzani and Gaël Mocaër, and Togolese fixer Komi Mawufemo Vedomey, and to release Mocaër and Vedomey who have spent 26 days in detention since they were arrested July 27 while filming a documentary in northern Togo. On August 20, an investigative…
DRC shutdown of internet, mobile networks in east extends for over a month amid war
Kinshasa, August 17, 2026—The Committee to Protect Journalists calls on authorities in the Democratic Republic of the Congo to restore mobile telecommunications and internet services that have been cut off for more than a month in the Fizi Territory, which includes the city of Baraka, in the eastern province of South Kivu. “The intensification of…
Cameroon journalist held incommunicado for photo of Anglophone unrest
Update: After publication on August 14, George Atabong Lekeaka was released, according to his lawyer Emmanuel Aleambong Nkea. Dakar, August 14, 2026—The Committee to Protect Journalists calls on Cameroonian authorities to release George Atabong Lekeaka, who has been held incommunicado since Monday for publishing a photo of security officers on patrol during clashes with separatist…
In Ethiopia, 5 journalists pressured to apologize for terrorism to win release
Nairobi, August 13, 2026—The Committee to Protect Journalists calls on Ethiopian authorities to immediately release five journalists who have been in detention for three years awaiting trial, instead of pressuring them to admit to, and apologize for, taking part in a deadly insurgency in exchange for their freedom. Gobeze Sisay, Meskerem Abera, Genet Asmamaw, Dawit…
Gabon’s online news outlet Info241 suspended for publishing allegations about president
Dakar, August 13, 2026—The Committee to Protect Journalists calls on Gabonese authorities to reinstate the privately owned news site Info241, which was suspended by the country’s media regulator for relaying comments by an influencer about President Brice Clotaire Oligui Nguema and his entourage. “Deciding to shut down a 13-year-old media outlet is more an act of…
CPJ joins call for Zambian authorities to keep internet on during elections
The Committee to Protect Journalists joined #KeepItOn Coalition partners in urging Zambian authorities and telecommunication providers to ensure free and open internet access before, during, and after the country’s general election on August 13. In the letter, the coalition highlighted Zambia’s 2021 internet shutdown, when access to major social media platforms, such as Facebook, Twitter,…