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One might think of Mauritius, Namibia, Ghana, and South Africa. Indeed, all of these countries rank among the highest in Africa. However, in 2024, according to a study by Reporters Without Borders, Mauritania ranked first in Africa and 33rd out of 180 countries worldwide, followed closely by Namibia, Seychelles, South Africa, Cape Verde, and Ghana. Yet, even in Mauritania, press freedom has been severely restricted since 2014. Under a 2017 law, blasphemy and apostasy are punishable by death, even if the accused shows remorse—although this sentence has not yet been enforced. Many journalists self-censor out of fear of reprisals. However, in this West African country, as well as in Tanzania, attacks on journalists have significantly decreased in recent years.

Among the 180 countries examined worldwide, the situation is particularly dire in the bottom 20. This group includes Russia, Belarus, China, and Iran—in most parts of Asia, respect for press freedom is appallingly poor, far worse than in most African nations. In Africa, five countries rank at the very bottom: Somalia, Sudan, Djibouti, Egypt, and Eritrea. Eritrea is considered a lawless state with an information desert. All media are controlled by the Ministry of Information. Since 2001, the dictatorship has isolated itself, ruthlessly suppressing the free flow of information. Four journalists who were arrested over two decades ago remain imprisoned without charge. One of them, Swedish citizen Dawit Isaak, is among the longest-imprisoned journalists in the world.

North Africa records a particularly poor state of press freedom, with frequent violence and arrests, often facilitated by draconian laws. Additionally, impunity for crimes against journalists is widespread. In the Sahel region, Niger, Burkina Faso, and parts of Mali have banned the broadcasting of French media. In nearly half of the countries south of the Sahara, the situation is classified as “difficult” or “very serious”. In Sudan, since the outbreak of the civil war in 2023, several journalists have been killed. Elections have also been marked by attacks on newsrooms in Nigeria, Madagascar, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo.During election periods, media regulatory bodies have disproportionately cracked down on the press in Togo, Zimbabwe, and Gabon. Authorities shut down the internet, expelled foreign journalists, and obstructed international media coverage. A creeping trend has become increasingly evident, particularly in West Africa. Several governments in the region have been leveraging the rise of social media as a pretext to impose new regulations, allegedly aimed at curbing disinformation and hate speech, but in reality, these measures serve to restrict freedom of expression.

According to a “Press Freedom Barometer”, as of early 2025, a total of 527 journalists and 25 media workers were imprisoned worldwide. Undoubtedly, mistakes occur on all sides, but there is insufficient awareness of press restrictions, a crucial issue for strengthening democratic and, above all, rule-of-law structures in Africa. This lack of concern may also stem from a lack of awareness or courage among African media outlets themselves. One striking example: Of more than 400 reports included in the comprehensive weekly press review of the German Africa Foundation in Berlin during the first weeks of 2025, only four focused on media issues.

You can download the paper in German here.