Press Freedom in Africa at Breaking Point, AMDF Raises Alarm.

The Africa Media Development Foundation (AMDF) has sounded a strong warning over the worsening state of press freedom across the continent, calling for urgent and coordinated action to safeguard journalists and media independence.

In a statement issued to mark World Press Freedom Day 2026, AMDF’s Press Freedom Manager, Zhiroh Jatau, said findings from multiple monitoring platforms—including the foundation’s Africa-wide Press Freedom Tracker—show a consistent decline in press freedom, with journalists increasingly subjected to violence, repression, and systemic restrictions.

According to the report, Sudan recorded the highest number of journalist killings in 2025 and also leads in cases of missing journalists, highlighting the severe risks faced by media professionals in conflict zones.

Eritrea was identified as Africa’s top jailer of journalists, where arbitrary and prolonged detention remains widespread.

The situation is equally concerning in the Sahel region, particularly in Niger, Mali, and Burkina Faso, where military regimes have intensified crackdowns on independent media, restricting information flow and silencing dissent.

In the Great Lakes region—covering the Democratic Republic of Congo, Rwanda, and Burundi—journalists continue to face harassment, intimidation, and prosecution.

In West Africa, Nigeria was singled out as one of the most dangerous countries for journalists, with frequent attacks attributed to both state and non-state actors, reflecting a broader continental trend of sustained pressure on media freedom.

AMDF identified Eritrea, Djibouti, Sudan, Ethiopia, and Rwanda as the most critical environments for journalists, citing severe restrictions on independent reporting and heightened risks of detention, torture, and even death.

“The evidence across multiple trackers points to a single conclusion: press freedom in Africa is under serious threat,” the organization stated, adding that the trend represents a widespread pattern rather than isolated incidents.

The foundation called on African governments to uphold constitutional and international commitments to freedom of expression, while urging the African Union and regional bodies to take decisive action against violations.

It also appealed to the international community to strengthen protection mechanisms for at-risk journalists and encouraged civil society groups and media organizations to deepen cross-border collaboration.

AMDF stressed that protecting journalists remains fundamental to sustaining democracy, noting that without a free and independent press, transparency, accountability, and development cannot be achieved.

The organization reaffirmed its commitment to advancing press freedom, strengthening media systems, and protecting journalists across Africa.