The War On News

A record of government actions against journalism and fact-based reporting, from the first press laws to today

The record

Incidents: detention and violence in Africa, national level

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
CountryEgypt, RSF 2026 rank: 169th of 180EritreaEthiopia, RSF 2026 rank: 148th of 180Nigeria, RSF 2026 rank: 112th of 180South Africa, RSF 2026 rank: 21st of 180Tunisia, RSF 2026 rank: 137th of 180
ContinentAfrica
TacticDetention and violence 7Licensing and closure of outlets 3Secrets and espionage laws 2Insult and defamation laws 1Prior restraint 1
StagePunish 3Silence 2Eliminate 2
OutcomeReversed 3Ongoing 2Sustained 2
LevelNational 7
Head of governmentAbiy AhmedAdly MansourBalthazar Johannes VorsterDaniel François MalanIsaias AfwerkiKais SaiedSani Abacha

7 incidents match this view.

TableCardsCSVJSONMarkdown
DateIncidentCountryTacticHead of governmentOutcome
3 September 2025Ethiopia arrests at least six journalists including Sheger FM staff over election-year coverageEthiopia (RSF 2026 rank: 148th of 180)Detention and violenceAbiy AhmedOngoing (22 September 2025)
16 January 2025Tunisia's cybercrime decree pushes jailed-journalist count to highest since 1992Tunisia (RSF 2026 rank: 137th of 180)Insult and defamation lawsKais SaiedSustained
29 December 2013Egypt arrests and later convicts three Al Jazeera journalists on terrorism-related chargesEgypt (RSF 2026 rank: 169th of 180)Detention and violenceAdly MansourReversed (23 September 2015)
18 September 2001Eritrea: independent press closed and journalists jailed without trialEritrea (RSF rank: not recorded)Detention and violenceIsaias AfwerkiOngoing
July 1995Nigeria's military government convicts journalists by special tribunal over coup-plot reportingNigeria (RSF 2026 rank: 112th of 180)Detention and violenceSani AbachaReversed (15 June 1998)
19 October 1977South Africa bans The World and Weekend World newspapers and detains editor Percy QobozaSouth Africa (RSF 2026 rank: 21st of 180)Licensing and closure of outletsBalthazar Johannes VorsterSustained (1 March 1978)
17 July 1950South Africa's Suppression of Communism Act lets the government ban publications and restrict individualsSouth Africa (RSF 2026 rank: 21st of 180)Prior restraintDaniel François MalanReversed (31 July 1991)
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