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: licensing and closure of outlets in Africa

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 180Ethiopia, RSF 2026 rank: 148th of 180South Africa, RSF 2026 rank: 21st of 180Tanzania, RSF 2026 rank: 117th of 180Zimbabwe, RSF 2026 rank: 124th of 180
ContinentAfrica
TacticLicensing and closure of outlets 7Detention and violence 3Funding and ownership pressure 2Prior restraint 1
StagePressure 2Punish 1Silence 4
OutcomeOngoing 2Unknown 2Reversed 2Sustained 1
LevelNational 7
Head of governmentAbiy AhmedBalthazar Johannes VorsterDaniel François MalanGamal Abdel NasserJohn MagufuliRobert Mugabe

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 March 2018Tanzania requires bloggers and online publishers to register and pay an annual government feeTanzania (RSF 2026 rank: 117th of 180)Licensing and closure of outletsJohn MagufuliUnknown (12 April 2018)
12 September 2003Zimbabwe: police close the Daily News under the media registration lawZimbabwe (RSF 2026 rank: 124th of 180)Licensing and closure of outletsRobert MugabeReversed (27 May 2010)
15 March 2002Zimbabwe enacts a law requiring all journalists and media houses to hold government licensesZimbabwe (RSF 2026 rank: 124th of 180)Licensing and closure of outletsRobert MugabeUnknown
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)
24 May 1960Egypt's Nasser government nationalizes every newspaper and magazine in the countryEgypt (RSF 2026 rank: 169th of 180)Funding and ownership pressureGamal Abdel NasserOngoing (1 January 1989)
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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