West Africa
  In Gambia, Alagi Yorro Jallow, managing editor of the "Independent" newspaper, reportedly received a letter, dated 13 January 2004, in which an unknown group called the "Green Boys" threatened to "eliminate" him if the "Independent" continued to publish stories about Baba Jobe, majority leader in the National Assembly. "This is a final warning to you," the letter said. "Stop it now or else you will never see a newspaper again . . . Stop telling lies and writing about Baba Jobe or you will regret it." Baba Jobe was arrested on 25 December 2003, and faces charges of tax evasion and other related crimes in what has become known as the "Babagate" scandal.
  In Guinea, several independent journalists in the country have been harassed and intimidated for stories and comments referring to the electionson 31 December 2003. Sanou Kerfalla Ciss and Talib Diallo, managing editor and deputy editor-in-chief, respectively, of the weekly "Le Diplomate", as well as Jean-Marie Morgan, a freelance journalist, were reportedly summoned by the police special branch, and interrogated for several hours on 26 December, and again on 30 December. On 27 and 29 December, the managing editor of the bi-monthly "Le Populaire" was according to reports also summoned by the police special branch and harassed about an article alleging that Senegal’s President, Abdoulaye Wade, had offered his Guinean counterpart, President Lasana Conte, exile in Dakar.
  In Liberia, journalists Alphonso Toweh (Reuters news agency), Janet Johnson (Radio Veritas) and Gibson Jerue ("Analyst" newspaper) were reportedly assaulted by a security officer working for the United Nations Mission in Liberia (UNMIL) on 7 January.
  In Nigeria, Tony Eluemunor, the "Daily Independent" newspaper’s Abuja bureau chief was reportedly interrogatedby Nigerian State Security Service (SSS) officerson 12 January in connection with the newspaper’s 8 January lead story. Thearticle alluded to links between the presidency and an alleged plot to unseat Anambra State Governor Chris Ngige.

East Africa
  In Kenya, police raided newsstands in major Kenyan towns and confiscated copies of newspapers published by the "alternative press" on 10 January. Scores of vendors were reportedly arrested in the crackdown, which Tourism and Information Minister Raphael Tuju said was aimed at getting rid of illegal newspapers. He added that the action was taken because the newspapers had not complied with the law on "registration, execution of a bond and making returns". On 12 December 2003, the minister warned that a crackdown would be carried out because the owners of the "alternative press" had failed to respect journalistic principles with respect to balance and fairness. In the capital city, Nairobi, police raided at least one printing press and confiscated newspapers rolling off the press, which would have been ready for sale on 12 January. During the raid at the "Independent" newspaper’s Immediate Press, the officers seized plates and other equipment. The newspaper’s editor, Mburu Muchoki, said that at least 15,000 copies were impounded. Newspapers that were confiscated include the "Independent", "Kenya Confidential", "Citizen", "News Post", "Weekly Wembe" and "Summit". Police also arrested "News Post" publisher Ndirangu Kariuki, but later released him. In the coastal town of Mombasa, police impounded bundles of the Nation Media Group’s "The Coast Express" at one news stand. Five vendors were arrested and police said they would appear in court on 12 January. Police also raided news stands in the towns of Nakuru and Kisumu.

Central Africa
  In the Democratic Republic of Congo, Nicaise Kibel’Bel Oka, publication director of the weekly "Les Coulisses", has reportedly received several death threats recently. The threats follow the publication of an article in which Okaaccused leaders of the Rally for Democracy-Liberation Movement of creating insecurity in the country’s northeastern region in order to cement their power.
  In Sudan, Mahjoub Mohamed Salih, editor-in-chief of the "Al-Ayam" newspaper was reportedly arrested on 14 January because of his newspaper’s unpaid tax arrears of 90 million Sudanese pounds (approx. 276,500 euros). Thepaper has been suspended since 3 December 2003. Earlier in the week of 12 January, Salih had, according to reports, been negotiating the payment of his paper’s tax bill with the Finance Ministry’s economic services. The ministry had reportedly agreed to reduce the amount of arrears owed by half. A meeting was also scheduled for 17 January to establish a payment timetable and give the daily a chance of financial survival.

Southern Africa
  In Zimbabwe, three journalists from the "Zimbabwe Independent" were reportedly arrested by Harare police on 10 January 2004, accused of insulting President Robert Mugabe. Iden Wetherell, managing editor of the "Zimbabwe Independent", and two of his journalists, Vincent Kahiya and Dumisani Muleya, are each accused of publishing an article that was "insulting" to the head of state. The "Zimbabwe Independent" had reported that President Mugabe took a plane belonging to the national carrier Air Zimbabwe for his holidays in Asia, resulting in a loss of earnings to the public company of three billion Zimbabwe dollars (approx. 2.9 million euros). The three journalists were released on bail on 12 January 2004. Also in Zimbabwe, Itai Dzamara, a reporter with the Harare-based independent weekly "The Independent", and the paper’s general manager, Raphael Khumalo, were reportedly arrestedon 14 January after presenting themselves to police at Harare Central Police Station. Both were summonedon 13 January to appear at the station for questioning the next day, for the same reasons as the three "Zimbabwe Independent" journalists.