African Journalists Are Being Murdered or Jailed: Affecting the Quality of Life & News in Africa

Thursday, 11 May 2023

By: TB Obwoge

It's almost daily, there are reports of an African journalists being murdered. There are some who are scared to continue to write any news involving politics or their government officials. Being outspoken in Africa seems to be a death sentence. 

Journalists are paying with their lives to write these days, doesn't matter if they're a blogger, vlogger or journalist with an established news media outlet. Many African governments are even trying to create bills and laws that would greatly punish or effect the way journalists report news. 

Every year several countries ask Google to remove items from it's platform, some countries ask for more content to be removed than others. This is often seem when writing about African countries, clicking links can lead to 402 notices (Item not found) often.

Bamenda Journalist Confirmed to have been killed by Separatists Fighters.

An investigation carried out by MMI has confirmed that Ambazonia separatist fighters were responsible for the killing of Anye Nde Nsoh. The 27-year-old, Nde Nsoh, was the West and Northwest region bureau chief for the weekly Advocate Newspaper was shot dead in Bamenda, the Capital of the North West region, last night.

The journalist and sports reporter was killed at the Don Simon bar on Che Street, in the Ntarikon neighbourhood. He died of bullet wounds while being rushed to a nearby hospital. No separatist group has claimed responsibility. The reason for his killing is yet to be known.

It is unclear so far from our investigations whether he was targeted by the separatists or simply a victim of circumstances, found at the wrong place.

Source: MIMIMEFOINFOS

Most of the initial reasons for their murders are usually unknown, unspecified or blamed on accidents or happenstance. Many go unsolved, or without a true investigation. Easier to blame the deaths on crime or accident than to government forces.

Also in Cameroon was the murder of a popular journalist named Martinez Zogo. Who's family is now reporting that they've been receiving threats from officials that they expect had something to do with his murder.

Family of Killed Cameroon Journalist Reports Threats from Officials Under Investigation

YAOUNDE, CAMEROON —

The family of Cameroonian journalist Martinez Zogo, who was killed in January, say they have received threats from officials suspected of involvement in his death. As authorities investigate the murder of the popular radio announcer and journalist, a debate has been sparked between family members who want him buried and others who insist on waiting until results of an investigation are made public.

Zogo’s mutilated remains were found near a bush in Yaounde on January 22, five days after he was abducted by unknown individuals. His body remains in the Yaounde General Hospital mortuary as the investigation continues. Some of his uncles and brothers want him buried on April 1, but Zogo’s wife and children object.

During a meeting on Wednesday in Yaounde, Zogo’s widow and some of her children said they will not be intimidated by threats and demands.

Attorney Calvin Djob, who represents the family, confirmed that Zogo’s wife and children have been receiving death threats for distancing themselves from plans to bury. He said some family members and friends have received bribes to support burying the journalist before results of the investigation are made public from officials who are being investigated. Djob said Zogo’s spouse has made it clear that her husband will not be buried if results of investigations ordered by Cameroon President Paul Biya into Zogo’s death are not made public.

Djob said a court in Yaounde last week ruled against any burial organized without the consent of Zogo’s widow, but other family members who are insisting that he should be buried have appealed the court's decision.

Zogo’s team said the late journalist's widow and children have been targeted at least three times within the past two months by unidentified individuals.

Zogo’s widow, Diane Zogo, said that in one incident, the occupants of a car following her pulled up alongside her vehicle and opened fire, destroying the windshield. The assailants drove off when witnesses started shouting for help.

Source: VOA

In Uganda a journalist was recently murdered Isma Olaxes, he was critical of a government official's murder by his military body guard. He was killed within days of making a statement about the death of Charles Engola who was in charge of labour, employment and industrial relations.

There have been 3 people arrested in the murder of Isma. One was his driver who was in the car with him, along with two others.

In Senegal where journalists are being restricted from what they can print or report another journalist Mr. Niang was arrested by police several times. He went on a hunger strike in protest, his hunger strike went international.

Niang had started a hunger strike, and he called press freedom an important pillar of Senegalese democracy. But Mr. Fofana also said that exposing classified documents was a threat to the rule of law. “If people want to undermine the fundamentals of our democracy,” he said, “then we take our responsibilities.”

Source: The New York Times

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