The record
Incidents in Africa, national level, outcome sustained
Each incident is a dated action by a government, an official, a regulator, a court or a legislature that limited journalists' ability to gather or publish news.
The number of entries reflects the depth of this record, not the severity of a country's conduct.
All filters: country, dates, head of government, sort
CountryEthiopia, RSF 2026 rank: 148th of 180South Africa, RSF 2026 rank: 21st of 180Tunisia, RSF 2026 rank: 137th of 180Zimbabwe, RSF 2026 rank: 124th of 180
ContinentAfrica
TacticDetention and violence 2Insult and defamation laws 2Secrets and espionage laws 1Expulsion and visa denial 1Licensing and closure of outlets 1
OutcomeSustained 4
LevelNational 4
| Date | Incident | Country | Tactic | Head of government | Outcome |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 16 January 2025 | Tunisia's cybercrime decree pushes jailed-journalist count to highest since 1992 | Tunisia (RSF 2026 rank: 137th of 180) | Insult and defamation laws | Kais Saied | Sustained |
| 14 July 2023 | Zimbabwe's Patriotic Act criminalizes journalists' contact with foreign governments | Zimbabwe (RSF 2026 rank: 124th of 180) | Secrets and espionage laws | Emmerson Mnangagwa | Sustained (14 July 2023) |
| 13 May 2022 | Ethiopia: Economist correspondent Tom Gardner expelled | Ethiopia (RSF 2026 rank: 148th of 180) | Expulsion and visa denial | Abiy Ahmed | Sustained (13 May 2022) |
| 19 October 1977 | South Africa bans The World and Weekend World newspapers and detains editor Percy Qoboza | South Africa (RSF 2026 rank: 21st of 180) | Licensing and closure of outlets | Balthazar Johannes Vorster | Sustained (1 March 1978) |
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