In Cameroon, a fire broke out in the offices of the private radio station Freedom FM on 2 January. It is suspected that the fired was started deliberately, as police found a gasoline can at the scene. The fire damaged the base of the transmitter. The private radio station has been plagued with difficulties since its launch nearly three years ago; it was shut down by the authorities before it could begin transmitting. Although reopened in July 2005, the station has still not broadcast due to damages that were incurred during the government-ordered shutdown. In a related incident, station-owner and newspaper publisher Pius Njawe reported that he was assaulted after taking a photograph a fire truck that was involved in a traffic accident after it left the scene of the radio station fire. The policeman reportedly tried to confiscate the publisher’s camera.
In Nigeria, a Port Harcourt High Court granted bail on 3 January to two radio journalists who were initially detained on 19 December 2005 on charges of broadcasting a "false news item". Klem Ofuokwu, news editor and Cleopatra Taiwo, a news presenter with the privately-owned radio station Rhythm 93.7 FM, in Port Harcourt, were arrested after a report which claimed that the Choba Bridge on the outskirts of the city had collapsed and trapped seven vehicles was aired on 17 December. The report, apparently based on telephone calls from unnamed sources, later proved to be incorrect. The judge has scheduled their trial for 1 February. Following their arrest and detention, the journalists were arraigned before the Court on 23 December on a two-count charge of conspiracy and broadcasting a false news item with intent to cause fear and alarm to the public or disturb the public peace.
In Sudan, "Al-Sahafa" columnist Zuhair Al-Sarraj was detained for more than 48 hours on 30 December 2005, in relation to an article that appeared in the newspaper that allegedly claimed the president appeared indifferent to the problems of Sudan’s citizens. After being interrogated at the Amarat district police station, he was transferred to police headquarters and questioned for another four hours. He was then put in Kober prison where he remained before being taken to appear before the Khartoum prosecutor until 2 January 2006. The newspaper’s editor, Adil Albaz, was also brought before the prosecutor. The prosecutor freed both journalists on bail after notifying them that they would be prosecuted for "insulting the president."
Sources:
Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ), New York
Ethiopian Free Press Journalists’ Association (EFJA), Addis Ababa
Human Rights Watch (HRW), United States
International Freedom of Expression Exchange (IFEX), Canada
International Press Institute (IPI), Vienna, Austria
Journaliste En Danger (JED), Democratic Republic of Congo
Media Foundation of West Africa (MFWA), Ghana
Media Institute of Southern Africa (MISA), Namibia
Media Rights Agenda (MRA), Nigeria
Reporters Without Borders (RSF), France