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Guinea: Journalist reported missing

Vivian Affoah
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cherif-300x300Cherif Diallo, a reporter of Espace TV, a privately-owned satellite television station in Guinea, has been reported missing.

Managers of Espace TV say Diallo was last seen at about 7pm on July 23, 2015, when he left the office. Since then, he has neither been seen nor heard from. In fact, his telephone no longer rings.

The MFWA correspondent in Guinea reported that it is not clear if Diallo had reported on any sensitive matters or received threats following any report. However, he had attended a “business meeting” on July 23, before going to work. According to a family member our correspondent spoke to, Diallo made a presentation on a new technology for making posters at the said meeting.

Following his presentation, there was a heated argument between him and others present. Diallo left the meeting and went to work and has not been seen again after leaving work that evening.

MFWA, MTN Partner for Digital Youth Empowerment Project

Vivian Affoah
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MFWA, MTN Partner for Digital Youth Empowerment Project

The Media Foundation for West Africa (MFWA) and Ghana’s leading telecommunications operator, MTN-Ghana, have signed a partnership agreement to implement an innovative nationwide youth empowerment project known as the Digital Youth Empowerment Project.

The initial phase of the project, seeks to empower at least 1,000 Ghanaian youth aged between 18 and 30, across the country. The project will offer mentoring and coaching workshops, support for development of business plans for ICT start-ups and direct start-up support services.  The project will also create a dedicated web platform known as the Digital Youth Infobank that will allow the youth to network, learn and share ideas on digital innovations and entrepreneurship.

At a signing ceremony held in Accra on July 24, 2015, the Executive Director of the MFWA, Sulemana Braimah, expressed his appreciation to MTN Ghana for offering support for the Project.

“There are many young unemployed Ghanaians who are very enthusiastic about developing careers in ICTs and others have developed great applications and are just looking for platforms to showcase their innovations. The Digital Youth Empowerment Project is one that has been strategically designed to respond to the needs and aspirations of young, ambitious Ghanaians to take advantage of the growing digital space to become digital entrepreneurs and innovators,” said Braimah.

He explained that unlike other initiatives, the Digital Youth Empowerment project is not a one-off event or awards ceremony but a long-term initiative to increase ICT-led development initiatives, innovation and digital entrepreneurship among Ghanaian youth.

On her part, the Corporate Services Executive of MTN Ghana, Mrs. Cynthia Lumor, said MTN Ghana remains committed to contributing significantly to the development of Ghana and thus, finds it a great opportunity to support a project that seeks to empower Ghanaian youth.

“We are very passionate and committed to supporting MFWA’s Digital Youth Empowerment Project because it is a project that is fully in line with MTN’s vision of leading the delivery of bold, new Digital World to our customers,” said Mrs. Lumor.

The Digital Youth Empowerment project forms part of MFWA’s regional (West Africa) Internet Freedom Programme supported by the UK-based Global Partners Digital.

Senegal UPDATE: Two publishers, one reporter placed under court supervision

Vivian Affoah
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Mohamed Guèye, publisher of Le Quotidien, and Alioune Badara Fall and Mamadou Seck, publisher and reporter respectively of L’Observateur, were charged and placed under court supervision on July 17, 2015.

Guèye was ordered to appear before the judge of the Sixth Investigation Bureau once a month for four months, while Fall and Seck must appear before the same judge every fortnight for four months.

The three were arrested and taken into police custody between July 14-15. After the case was sent to the Public Prosecutor’s Office and the Public Prosector began a judicial enquiry, the journalists were transferred to the Dakar Central Police Station.

Fall and Seck were arrested for publishing an article on May 8, 2015, on the deployment of Senegalese soldiers to Saudi Arabia. Guèye was arrested for violating the confidentiality of investigations with his June 10, 2015 publication of the hearing of the case of Thione Seck, a Senegalese artist, who was remanded to custody for counterfeiting bank notes.

“These arrests have been condemned by Senegalese trade unionists who suspect [they are acts of] intimidation,” the MFWA’s correspondent in Senegal said. “Thus, the journalists’ union announced an application for authorisation to march in protest against these harassments and other forms of intimidation against Senegalese journalists.”

Letter from the Graves – Murdered Gambians Write to President Jammeh

Vivian Affoah
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pulsarmediaToday, July 22, 2015, is President Yahya Jammeh’s twenty-first anniversary in power. To mark this day, the numerous Gambians murdered under the Jammeh regime are crying out for justice in a joint letter to West Africa’s King of Impunity. These victims, who are tired of waiting for justice, have expressed their suffering in the absence of accountability for The Gambia’s violations of human rights, including freedom of expression and press freedom.

Please recognise their anguish by reading in their letter below.

The Union of Murdered Gambians

Central Cemetery of Victims of the Jammeh Regime

Banjul, The Gambia

July 22, 2015

President Yahya Jammeh of The Gambia

Private Mail Bag
State House

Banjul, The Gambia

Dear President Yahya Jammeh, West Africa’s King of Impunity:

You may not have known us. You may not know or remember our names. Yet you claimed us; we are the ones tortured, disappeared, and murdered by your regime. We may have seen another face at our time of death, but we know: it was you who was responsible.

We were human rights defenders, journalists, students, activists; innocents in all. Those of us whose bodies were returned to our families consider ourselves lucky; our loved ones have closure with respect to our end. The ones who died in disappearance suffer more, watching those they left behind hold onto a hope beyond hopes.

None of us can rest knowing your crimes against humanity have gone and continue to go unpunished.

Today, you happily celebrate your twenty-first anniversary as president of our country, while Gambians joylessly look back on two decades of violent abuses and repression under your rule. We’ve watched as you’ve shaken hands with the most powerful leader in the world and shrouded yourself with the veil of impunity. We saw the international community, including African Union bodies and even West Africa’s own ECOWAS body, turn a blind eye to your abuses and incendiary rhetoric.

We heard the judgments of the ECOWAS Court of Justice, decided in favour of three of your countless victims. And our souls have wept as you continue to ignore these rulings and as ECOWAS allows you and your government to violate our memories with impunity.

You broke our bodies, you tried to break our spirits with your disregard for our inalienable dignity and rights. But we refuse to accept that our deaths were meaningless; for the sake of our brothers and sisters still speaking out against you and your regime, we believe in a just future.

We know your reign as West Africa’s King of Impunity will not last forever. You will be held accountable and you will pay for your abuses against our words, our dignity, and finally, our lives and families. And on that day, we will finally be at peace.

We are waiting.

The Dead

Senegal: 3 publishers arrested and detained on the same day

Vivian Affoah
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On July 14, 2015, police detained Mohamed Gueye and Alioune Badara Fall, publishers of Le Quotidien and L’Observateur, newspapers respectively.

The two had been separately summoned to appear before the police at Colobane for interrogation.

It was the third summons for Gueye, who had been summoned twice before in June following the publication in Le Quotidien of the verbatim hearing of the counterfeiting and fraud case of Senegalese singer, Thione Seck.

The MFWA’s correspondent in Guinea reported that Gueye, who was invited for a simple hearing this month, was later detained for “violation of the confidentiality of investigations.” According to our correspondent’s sources, Gueye was held at the police station until he was permitted to go to the mosque on his own request.

In the case of Fall, he and his reporter colleague, Mamadou Seck, were summoned to answer questions related to an article on the flight plan of Senegalese soldiers about to be deployed to Saudi Arabia. According to authorities, the departure of the soldiers had not been planned yet, hence the publication was false.

Fall and Seck were later freed in the evening of July 14.

Also on July 14, Mamadou Wane, publisher of Enquête and also the director of the online newspaper lignedirect.sn, was summoned, detained and later freed.

Meanwhile, the Union of Senegalese Information and Communication Professionals (Syndicat des Professionnels de l’Information et de la Communication du Sénégal -SYNPICS) have decried these incidents. According to its general secretary, Ibrahima Khaliloulah Ndiaye, these arrests and detentions are a ploy by the police and authorities to “terrorise” the media.

The MFWA joins SYNPICS in condemning these press freedom violations. We also call on the authorities to respect and protect the right to freedom of expression instead of silencing journalists through threats of and actual deprivations of liberty.

Togo ALERT: Journalist detained for 60 days for Facebook post

Vivian Affoah
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Bonero Lawson-Betum, Publications Director of the monthly La Nouvelle, has been languishing in detention following his arrest on May 19, 2015.

Lawson-Betum was arrested on the morning of May 19 by two plainclothes individuals while returning from the headquarters of the Liberté newspaper. After being detained a few days at the premises of the Central Directorate of the Judicial Police in Lomé, he was transferred to the Lomé Civil Prison.

Following his arrest, his home as well as his work premises was searched.

The arrest and detention of Lawson-Betum followed a complaint by the Security and Civil Protection Minister, Colonel Damehane Yark, who accused the journalist of having published online, including on Facebook, “detrimental writings in honour of the Minister, his family and threats to his daughter.”

The MFWA’s correspondent in Togo reported that people close to Col. Yark had said Lawson-Betum was not arrested as a journalist in the line of his work but “as a private citizen who abused his freedom to defame the Minister.”

On June 5, Lawson-Betum’s lawyer, Jil-Benoit Afangbedji, asked for bail, but the court denied this request. The case was subsequently sent to the examining magistrate for “investigation”.

According to our correspondent, many believe Lawson-Betum’s arrest and detention was a cover-up since he had been allegedly targeted by authorities for his purportedly pro-opposition position.

The MFWA strongly condemns the continued detention of Lawson-Betum. The continued arrested contravenes his human rights to liberty and security of person and to freedom of expression. The MFWA urges the Togolese authorities to respect Togo’s human rights obligations under international law and immediately release Bonero Lawson-Betum.

Nigeria: School principal physically assaults, sexually harasses female journalist

Vivian Affoah
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On July 9, 2015, the principal of Comprehensive Senior High School in Lagos assaulted Olanike Akinrimisi, a reporter with The Point newspaper.

Akinrimisi had gone to the school to report on classroom congestion and poor infrastructure in the school. While she was taking pictures, the school principal, whose name has only been given as one Animashaun, attacked Akinrimisi and pushed her down.

Sensing her camera could be seized, Akinrimisi hid her camera in her bosom. This, however, did not prevent Animashaun from taking it as he put his hand into the upper part of her dress, touching her breasts as he removed her camera.

The MFWA’s correspondent in Nigeria reported that, following the assault, The Point petitioned the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Education.

The letter titled, ‘Report of Assault Meted Out to Our Reporter by a School,’ was signed by the Kayode Fasua, editor of The Point, among other things, appealed for justice to be served in the matter.

“Up till now, the reporter’s camera is still with Animashaun who, despite all entreaties, has been brimming with brimstone and fire, threatening that anywhere he spots our reporter, he would strip her naked,” the petition said. “Kindly move in to ensure justice, as we earnestly await your response.”

The MFWA condemns this attack on Akinrimisi and urges all actors to allow journalists to freely report on issues of public importance, such as education. It is imperative that both state and non-state actors respect the safety of journalists and provide effective redress for violations of personal security.

Nigeria: Journalist threatened by Boko Haram

Vivian Affoah
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Adeola Akinremi, features editor of the privately-owned THISDAY newspaper in Lagos, has reported receiving death threats from Boko Haram.

The threats were contained in an email sent to Akinremi on May 10, 2015, by Abu Musab Abul-Barnawi, self-identified spokesperson for Boko Haram.

The threatening email said: “We have seen your hand against us. Inshallah you will die like other infidels that we captured. You have been joining our enemies. You are made yourself their mouth [sic] but we will get you insha Allah. This is a holy mission for Allah, so stop writing against us. You’re going too [sic] Michika calling yourself a brave journalist, but you’re a coward. We will get you. Its [sic] your government that talks amnesty, we are not looking for amnesty. Allah is with us. You’re now a walking dead and a prey to the Lions of Islam from the bullet of a passing car or a nearby rooftop. We are not asking you to repent, because of your error. We will use your blood to send warning to others. Those people from America and Europe that are using you against our mission will soon know the truth. Our wounded fighters will never give up. They will return to fight for Allah to get their reward. Your soldier will soon know the truth.”

The MFWA’s correspondent in Nigeria reported that the threat results from an article Akinremi authored on May 8. The article titled, “Why Boko Haram don’t deserve our amnesty,” recounted stories of Boko Haram’s victims in Adamawa, a state which has seen attacks from Boko Haram.

“After reflecting on all these stories and many more, I came to a conclusion that granting the Boko Haram members any form of amnesty will be injustice to the children orphaned by Boko Haram and the women who have become widows and of course to the memory of their slain husbands,” Akinremi wrote in his article.

Akinremi went on to report that “Boko Haram members have spurned all kinds of human rights laws, whether national, regional or international and cannot seek to enjoy the same.”

“We must either bring these enemies to justice or bring justice to them, either way justice must be done,” Akinremi wrote.

This is not the first time Boko Haram has targeted THISDAY newspaper for an article. On April 26, 2012, the insurgents simultaneously bombed the newspaper’s offices in Abuja and Kaduna. The Kaduna office housed two other newspapers, The Sun and Moment.

A few days later, the sect released a video of the Abuja bombing and threatened the newspapers with further attacks. The video referenced a 2002 publication by THISDAY, in which the newspaper said Prophet Mohammed would have married a beauty pageant contestant.

The MFWA appeals to the Nigerian Police Force to offer protection to Akinremi, his family, and THISDAY newspaper. In addition, the MFWA urges media managers and owners in Nigeria to provide risk assessment and safety guidelines and training to journalists reporting on potentially dangerous topics, such as issues related to abuses by Boko Haram.

Côte d’Ivoire : Regulatory body withdraws license of journalist

Vivian Affoah
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Uni Global Union World Congress, Cape Town

The Ivorian press regulatory body, Conseil National de la Presse (CNP), has suspended and withdrawn the license of  Guillaume Gbato, a journalist with the Notre Voie newspaper.

He has been suspended for six months.

In a communiqué issued on July, 9, 2015, the CNP said Guillaume was suspended for making “extremely serious” statements which “seriously undermine the reputation, honour and respectability of the CNP”.

Gbato, who is also the Secretary-General of the National Private Press Union of Côte d’Ivoire (Syndicat National de la Presse Privée de Côte d’Ivoire- SYNAPPCI), made the allegedly problematic statements at a press conference on May 11, 2015. Gbato’s statement accused the CNP of sabotage and injustice, among other things.

“We wish to condemn all acts of sabotage and distraction which tend to take us back; and among these actions, unfortunately, are illegal proceedings instituted by the CNP against the Secretary-General of the SYNAPPCI”, Guillaume is reported to have said. “We are determined to ensure that the law on injustices, no matter where these come from, triumphs” and also that “this is not the first act of injustice committed by the CNP.”

According to the MFWA’s correspondent in Cote d’Ivoire, the sanction imposed on Gbato is a fresh development in the case of the dissipation of donations made to the Press Assistance and Development Fund (Fonds de Soutien et de Développement de la Presse- FSDP).

“The false declaration of an amount of two million CFA Francs (more than US$ 4,000) by the Office of the President for the organization of the congress and the illegal sale of a vehicle belonging to the union was revealed by L’Eléphant déchaîné, an investigative bi-weekly,” our correspondent said.

Gbato has up to 30 days to appeal the CNP’s decision.

Niger: Journalist, civil society actor arrested

Vivian Affoah
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On July 9, members from Niger’s Criminal Investigative Department (CID) arrested Kaka Touda Mamane Goni, a journalist with the Alternative bi-weekly in Niger.

Goni was taken into the custody of the CID regarding an interview he gave to a local private television station. In the said interview, Goni condemned leakages of a local academic examination, the baccalauréat. He blamed the leakage on the “laxity on the part of the authorities” in charge of organizing the examinations.

The MFWA’s correspondent in Niger reported that on the same day Goni was arrested, the CID also arrested civil society actor Siradji Issa, who is the President of the Youth Movement for the Emergence of Niger (Mouvement des Jeunes pour l’Emergence du Niger -MOJEN).

Issa’s arrest followed a complaint lodged by the Minister of Youth and Sports, Abdoulkarim Dan Mallam, who accused Issa of libelling, defaming and insulting him.

According to our correspondent, on July, 5, 2015, Issa issued a press statement in which he criticised Mallam for suspending nine national sports associations and accused him of mismanaging the revolt of the players of national team players were reluctant to collect their match allowances.

Mali: Ivorian journalist arrested for allegedly conspiring with jihadists

Vivian Affoah
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On July 4, 2015, Tié Traoré, a journalist with the L’Inter, an independent Ivorian daily, was arrested in Fakola, Mali which is about 20 km away from Côte d’Ivoire.

The journalist had gone to Fakola on July 3, to report on an attack perpetrated there on June 28, allegedly by Ansar Dine jihadists. On June 30, the said jihadists had reportedly announced that they would attack Côte d’Ivoire and Mauritania, countries they accused of being “enemies of Islam.”

The MFWA’s correspondent in Cote d’Ivoire reported that Traoré was arrested by Malian soldiers who accused him of “not being authorized by the Malian authorities’’ to enter Mali. They thus accused him of entering the country illegally and conspiring with the jihadists.

“He was mistaken for a jihadist or at least a collaborator, and treated as such before being sent to the Kolondieba prefecture under which falls the town of Fakola, where he was questioned before he was transferred to the Ivorian security authorities at Tengrela,” the MFWA’s correspondent said.

After a tough interrogation session, he was extradited to Côte d’Ivoire and handed over to the Prefect of Tengrela in the northern part of the country. The Prefect subsequently transferred him to the Gendarmerie which sent him to Korhogo, the capital of Korhogo Department in northern Côte d’Ivoire.

Traoré was finally sent to the Territorial Company of the Korhogo Gendarmerie and interrogated for a second time before he was returned to Abidjan. In Abijan, the investigation brigade questioned him again about his presence in Mali in the presence of the editor-in-chief of L’Inter, Ziao Hamidou.

MFWA, Partners Set-up Regional Centre for Investigative Journalism

Vivian Affoah
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norbert-zongo1-37811The Media Foundation for West Africa (MFWA) and its national Partner for Burkina Faso, the Norbert Zongo Press Centre and the United Nation’s Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) have set up a regional Centre for Investigative Journalism in West Africa.

The regional investigative journalism Centre, which will be named after the late iconic Burkinabe investigative journalist, Norbert Zongo, will be known as the Nobert Zongo Centre for Investigative Journalism and by its French acronym, CENOZO.  It will be hosted by the Nobert Zongo Press Centre, Burkina Faso.

This follows a two-day conceptualisation meeting on July 8 and 9, at the Burkinabe capital, Ouagadougou. The meeting  involved West Africa’s leading investigative journalists including Ghana’s Anas Aremeyaw Anas, Allen Yero Embalo of Guinea Bissau and Niger’s Ibrahim Manzo Diallo.

The aim of the Centre is to contribute to promoting high-level investigative journalism that will contribute to fighting corruption, human rights violations and organised crime in the West Africa region. It will also help to network and empower investigative journalists in the region as well as offer legal assistance and other forms of support to promote the safety of investigative journalists.

The Executive Director of the MFWA, Sulemana Braimah, who participated in the two-day conceptualisation meeting, described the initiative as one that was long overdue.

“There has been significant progress in press freedom and freedom of expression in West Africa during the last decade. The public in West Africa are now looking for professional, independent journalism that can contribute significantly to the fight against corruption, bad governance and organised crime, which are stifling the progress of the region,” said Sulemana Braimah. “The media can play a critical role in promoting good governance and peace in West Africa and investigative journalism is what is most required to serve that purpose.”

At the end of the two-day meeting, the first Board of Directors for the Centre, made up of prominent journalists from the region was constituted. The Board is chaired by investigative journalist, Allen Yero Embalo of Guinea Bissau. The Centre is open to receive investigative journalists in West Africa as members.

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