In response to the climate of repression creeping across the region, the Media Foundation for West Africa (MFWA), supported by the 11th Hour Project of The Schmidt Family Foundation, documented cases of censorship, arbitrary arrests, detentions, abductions, and related constraints on media operations during August 2025.
These violations were recorded through MFWA’s monitoring network of national partners and correspondents throughout West Africa, supplemented by media reports, direct complaints from victims, and independent verification by MFWA’s Freedom of Expression Team.
The monitoring covers all 16 West African countries. Its primary aim is to bolster freedom of expression, media rights, and access to information across the region by documenting violations, analysing trends, and promoting accountability. In doing so, the project aims to provide trustworthy data for advocacy, encourage policy reforms, and create a safer environment for journalists, activists, and citizens to freely share their opinions.
This report highlights the violations recorded in August and situates them within the broader context of the region’s shrinking civic space.
Access the report here
