UPDATE: Gambia Government Pays Compensation to Four Journalists

The Barrow government has yet to comply with the Court’s order to decriminalise anti-press freedom laws of sedition, defamation, and false news. Photo Credit: Modou S. Joof/FPI

GAMBIA: Journalists Must Boycott NIA Interrogation For Press Accreditation

Local journalists fear that the press freedom space is gradually shrinking and, just like the military junta did between 1994 and 1996, this signals an end to the honeymoon period for journalists. In this photo, cameras raised at President Barrow’s inauguration in February 2017 (Photo by JOOFMS/TNBES)

5 Reasons Why State House’s NIA Journalists Screening Is a Bad Idea

Without providing any evidence, President Barrow said some journalists asked him for money in exchange for favourable reports. He has also threatened to use obsolete colonial laws like sedition laws against journalists. Here (pic), Barrow hands cash to a local cultural performer upon his return to Banjul following the end of the political standoff.

LIBERIA: Pres. Weah Signs Law Decriminalising Libel

Journalists and media houses in Liberia “have suffered crippling fines, arbitrary closures or long custodial sentences for publishing information deemed defamatory, according to MFWA (Photo Credit: Frontpage Africa).

GPU demands thorough investigation into assault on Eye Africa journalist

An officer of the Police Intervention Unit, an anti-riot squad notorious for assaults on journalists and Gambian citizens, reportedly slapped Eye Africa TV’s Bubacarr Manga (pictured) on Sunday while he filmed a meeting organised by a group of teachers [on a sit-down strike] in Abuko (Photo Credit: Eye Africa TV)

Gambian police release journalist beaten, arrested at protest

Bojang was reportedly ‘beaten and seriously injured in the head’ when police started firing live rounds at peaceful protesters which left at least two death and eighteen injured on Monday (Photo taken from Kibaaro News)

Gambia: Supreme Court Scraps Criminal Defamation, Upheld False Publication

Gambia’s President Adama Barrow got elected in 2016 on promises of press freedom, freedom of expression and respect for human rights, but after one year in office, his public ratings were low, especially on social media (Photo Credit: Modou S. Joof/TNBES/Feb 2017)

FRONT PAGE INTERNATIONAL: ACTIVITY REPORT 2012-2018

AFRICA: Experts Call for Replication of Nigeria’s Digital Rights Bill

‘This would be seen as a challenge to other African countries. It would be great for Nigeria to set a good example in this area.’

Abuja to host Africa at the 2018 Internet Freedom Forum

The forum comes at an important time when many Africans fear for their freedom online, Paradigm Initiative says.