Africa Keeps Many News Writers in Jail, Report Says.
Seven African nations locked up many news writers last year, a press group found. Most sat in jail for writing about their rulers or sharing news the state called false.
Eritrea held the most writers in Africa south of the Sahara. The country kept 16 news people in cells since 2000. They never learned why officers put them there.
The Committee to Protect Journalists said 67 African writers stayed behind bars for their work in 2023. This marks more jails than in 2022 when 57 faced prison time. Some writers in Rwanda and Senegal said guards beat them.
Many got long prison terms. Ten must stay for life, and one faces death. The group said 54 writers must serve over ten years. Another 55 got five to ten years, and 62 faces one to five years.
Egypt scared writers first, then locked them up. The nation broke its own rules when it kept a British writer in jail past his release date.
Countries used web crime laws to stop news writers. More than half the jailed writers faced charges of working against the state. Places like Myanmar and Russia called them terrorists or extremists.
Ethiopia charged five writers with terror acts after they wrote about fighting in Amhara. They might die if found guilty. Cameroon and Rwanda each held five writers, mostly for state crimes or false news claims.
Nigeria used web laws to jail four writers who told stories about corrupt acts. Burundi locked up one writer for hurting the nation's name.
The press group wants these jails to end. They ask world leaders to see how stopping news hurts growth, safety, and fair votes. China, Israel, and Myanmar put more writers in jail than any other lands last year.
The group counted 361 writers in cells on December 1, 2023. This shows how many places still fear free news and try to silence those who share it.
Seven African nations locked up many news writers last year, a press group found. Most sat in jail for writing about their rulers or sharing news the state called false.
Eritrea held the most writers in Africa south of the Sahara. The country kept 16 news people in cells since 2000. They never learned why officers put them there.
The Committee to Protect Journalists said 67 African writers stayed behind bars for their work in 2023. This marks more jails than in 2022 when 57 faced prison time. Some writers in Rwanda and Senegal said guards beat them.
Many got long prison terms. Ten must stay for life, and one faces death. The group said 54 writers must serve over ten years. Another 55 got five to ten years, and 62 faces one to five years.
Egypt scared writers first, then locked them up. The nation broke its own rules when it kept a British writer in jail past his release date.
Countries used web crime laws to stop news writers. More than half the jailed writers faced charges of working against the state. Places like Myanmar and Russia called them terrorists or extremists.
Ethiopia charged five writers with terror acts after they wrote about fighting in Amhara. They might die if found guilty. Cameroon and Rwanda each held five writers, mostly for state crimes or false news claims.
Nigeria used web laws to jail four writers who told stories about corrupt acts. Burundi locked up one writer for hurting the nation's name.
The press group wants these jails to end. They ask world leaders to see how stopping news hurts growth, safety, and fair votes. China, Israel, and Myanmar put more writers in jail than any other lands last year.
The group counted 361 writers in cells on December 1, 2023. This shows how many places still fear free news and try to silence those who share it.
