In Algeria, on the eve of the 9 April election, won by President Abdelaziz Bouteflika who was seeking a third term, the government placed a ban on the distribution of the current issues of three French publications - L’Express, Marianne and Journal du Dimanche. Source: Reporters Without Borders

  In Niger, on 6 April, Ali Soumana, publisher of the independent Niamey-based weekly Le Courrier, was arrested and detained at the headquarters of the Criminal Investigation Department following a defamation complaint brought against him by Seyni Salou, managing director of the state-owned water company, Eau du Niger. Source: Media Foundation for West Africa

  In the Gambia, some charges against The Point editor, Halifa Sallah, have been dropped by the court; though he is still accused of falsifying citizenship documents. Source: International Press Institute

  In Ghana, on 9 April, the government announced the withdrawal of a directive it had issued on 16 March requiring foreign journalists and media outlets to seek clearance and official guides from the Ministry of Information before covering any event or issue in the country, and to submit copies of their material before publishing it. Source: Media Foundation for West Africa

  In Egypt, journalist and blogger Ahmed Seif Al-Nasr was arrested on 10 April after covering the arrest of many Fayoum University students the previous day. He is being held in Fayoum’s Bandar police station where he has embarked on a hunger strike to protest his arrest. Source: Reporters Without Borders