Reporters without Boarders has released its Worldwide Press Freedom Index for 2006. Find below parts of the report that focus on the state of press freedom in Africa:
Press freedom is genuine is Benin (23rd), Namibia (26th), Mauritius (32nd), Ghana (34th), Mali (35th), South Africa (44th) and Cape Verde (45th) and comparable to that in Western democracies.
It does not exist or is constantly under attack in Eritrea (166th), Gambia (149th), Somalia (144th), Democratic Republic of Congo (142nd), Zimbabwe (140th) and Equatorial Guinea (137th). The same African countries have featured at the top and bottom of the Index for several years.
Ghana (34th) rose 32 places to become fourth in Africa behind the continent’s three traditional leaders - Benin (23rd), Namibia (26th) and Mauritius (32nd). Economic conditions are still difficult for the Ghanaian media but it is no longer threatened by the authorities.
Welcome changes of regime
Togo (66th) has risen 29 places since the death of President Gnassingbe Eyadema in February 2005, the accession to power of his son and internationally-backed efforts to make peace with the opposition.
A coup in Mauritania in August 2005 ended the heavy censorship of the local media and the country has risen to 77th position after being 138th in 2004, one of the biggest improvements in the Index.
Some African countries slipping while others move up
After a brief period of hope for improvement, Ethiopia (160th) dropped 29 places to near the bottom of the Index because of a crackdown and trial of about 20 newspaper editors arrested at the same time as leaders of an opposition coalition.
A combination of zealous police and corrupt judges once again sent journalists to prison in Niger (95th) and Cameroon (112th), where an Australian reporter was held for several days and some outspoken newspapers were hauled before courts. Things got much worse in Burundi (125th) due to increasingly aggressive behaviour by the government elected in 2005 towards privately-owned media. Open threats, absurd legal harassment and shows of force pushed the country down 35 places. Tight control of news and hostility towards foreign journalists during the election campaign knocked Uganda (116th) down 36 places.
Election year in the Seychelles (95th) took place under the dominance of the government-run media and intimidation of the opposition press, losing the country 23 places in the Index.
Despite the continuing political crisis in Côte d’Ivoire (99th), the country moved up 41 places because of the comparative calm for journalists after several very bad years, though Abidjan remains a very dangerous city for the media. The “Young Patriot” militia once again seized control of the state broadcasting studios in January 2006.
Madagascar (66th) moved up 31 places after a peaceful year without violence or closure of media outlets.
The US Falls
The United States (53rd) has fallen nine places since last year, after being in 17th position in the first year of the Index, in 2002. Relations between the media and the Bush administration sharply deteriorated after the president used the pretext of “national security” to regard as suspicious any journalist who questioned his “war on terrorism.” The zeal of federal courts which, unlike those in 33 US states, refuse to recognise the media’s right not to reveal its sources, even threatens journalists whose investigations have no connection at all with terrorism.
Worst Violators
The three worst violators of free expression - North Korea, bottom of the Index at 168th place, Turkmenistan (167th) and Eritrea (166th) - have clamped down further. The torture death of Turkmenistan journalist Ogulsapar Muradova shows that the country’s leader, “President-for-Life” Separmurad Nyazov, is willing to use extreme violence against those who dare to criticise him. Reporters Without Borders is also extremely concerned about a number of Eritrean journalists who have been imprisoned in secret for more than five years. The all-powerful North Korean leader, Kim Jong-il, also continues to totally control the media.
No kidding, Cameroon has improved under Biya. In the Ahidjo days she musta been worse than North Korea, if you recall. At that time, even having a "subversive dream" or screaming out the wrong name in the throes of orgasm could get you in one his concentration camps. Keep working on it, Biya. The next dictator after you die at age 98 years, maybe it will score 100.
Posted by: Fndng | October 24, 2006 at 05:50 PM