As the year comes to a close, The Liberalist reflects on the major events that shaped the state of press freedom in Africa
The resignation of Geoffrey Nnaji after Premium Times’s forgery exposé has raised hard questions about Nigeria’s institutions and whether the law will act on clear evidence of criminality.
Uganda becomes the fourth African country to accept US deportees, raising tough questions about trade pressure, human rights, and the lives of those forced to start over.
Burkina Faso has scrapped visa fees for African travellers, a move seen as both an economic boost and a strong signal of pan-African unity despite its ECOWAS exit.
For over 65 years of achieving self-government, Nigeria’s major issues are not addressed in local communities.
…residents survive on borrowed water from private boreholes as government neglect and failed promises leave the community trapped in a daily struggle for life’s most basic need.
Recently, headlines spotlighted how Africans lost over €60 million in 2024 alone to rejected Schengen visa applications. But beyond the outrage over wasted money lies the systematic shutting out of African talents and opportunities from the global stage.
While over 70 percent of Africans support multi-party elections and presidential term limits, trust in electoral processes has weakened. Only 58 percent believe their most recent election was free and fair, down from 66 percent in 2014, and 48 percent say votes are not counted fairly.
In Africa, the irresistible search for fair judgment continues to push Africans to courts abroad.
Adegboyega warned that authoritarian regimes are not alone in this practice. Democratic governments, he said, now justify surveillance under the banner of national security, which continues to alarm civil society actors and watchdog groups.
Africa’s press freedom is deteriorating, with many countries experiencing increased repression, violence, and state-sanctioned media manipulation against journalists.
Rather than imposing more taxes, the government should reduce barriers to digital access.
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Get new insights on pro-freedom issues and current events. Subscribe to ‘Letters of Reasoning’ for weekly expert commentary and fresh perspectives.
