East Africa

  In Kenya, journalists Beauttah Omanga, of the Nation Media Group, Angwenyi Gichana, of The People newspaper, and cameraman Ken Momanyi were arrested and detained for two hours on 30 November. The journalists were covering a demonstration against a provincial commissioner over alleged interference in the ruling party’s nominations.

Also in Kenya, two South African journalists - Independent foreign service reporter Beauregard Tromp and Star photographer Mujahid Safodien - were arrested on 30 November in the Kenyan coastal city of Mombasa, allegedly after being "identified" by a police informer, and because of their "Middle Eastern appearance". They were harassed, threatened and forced to accompany police officers to a local police station where they were subjected to questions and intimidation about their presence in the city. No reasons were given for their arrest and detention, nor were they allowed to contact officials at the South African High Commission in Nairobi for assistance. Subsequently, when Safodien tried to take pictures after the police officers forced the journalists to drive from the station to their hotel and back, he was physically manhandled. The two were eventually released on the night of 30 November but their passports were withheld until the following day, when again they were subjected to further interrogation.

West Africa

  In Guinea-Bissau, the Portuguese public broadcaster Radiotelevisao Portuguesa’s (RTP) operations were suspended on 1 December for an unspecified period, according to the Information Ministry. The authorities accuse RTP of broadcasting "information that is likely to tarnish the good image of Guinea-Bissau outside the country and may stir up anger inside the country." On 30 November, RTP had broadcast a programme marking the second anniversary of the death of General Ansumane Man, the former head of a 1998 rebellion who was killed in November 2000, following an attempted coup d’tat against the country’s elected president, Kumba Yala.

Central Africa

  In the Democratic Republic of Congo, journalist Paulette Kimuntu and cameraman Kadima Baruani, who work for the private television station Radiotlvision Kin-Malebo, were arrested by officers from the Congolese National Police Special Services Branch in front of the South African embassy in Kinshasa. No official explanation for the arrests has been given, but they occurred as the two journalists were arriving in front of the embassy to film a demonstration organised by a self-described "free and independent" civil society group.

North Africa

  In Egypt, the authorities banned the November issue of the Lebanese literary magazine Al-Adab, which focused on censorship in the country. Al-Adab’s November issue contained reports and personal accounts about censorship of the press, cinema and art.

Sources for the regional updates:

Journalist in Danger

International Freedom of Expression Exchange

Reporters Without Borders

Freedom of Expression Institute, South Africa

Egyptian Organization for Human Rights

Network for the Defence of Independent Media in Africa, Kenya