PEN SA Africa Pulse #7

UN Secretary General pledges to take action on journalist safety

The United Nations has pledged to take action to ensure the safety of journalists. This pledge comes after a report, detailing the many cases where journalists have been arrested, tortured and jailed was released last week by the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ). The CPJ Executive Director Joel Simon and Reporters Without Borders (RSF) Secretary General Christophe Deloire, met with United Nations Secretary General António Guterres to discuss the #ProtectJournalists campaign.
Reporters Without Borders

Journalists arrested in Cameroon

The Cameroonian government arrested three journalists on 9 February 2017. The three journalists arrested included the Southwest Bureau Chief of The Guardian Post, Amos Fofun, the Political Desk Editor for The Sun newspaper, Atia Tilarius and a journalist from NDEFCAM radio in Bamenda.
Cameroon Postline

Nigerian musician sent to prison over newly-released song

Sadiq Zazzabi, a musician based in Kano, Nigeria has been sent to prison following the release of his new song. The singer was ordered to appear before the censorship court in Kano for allegedly violating the state’s censorship board law. The law requires that a song should pass a censorship screening before it is released. The singer however told Premium Times that he was being targeted because of his support for former Governor Rabiu Kwankwaso.
Premium Times

Two men charged with hate speech appear at the Durban Equality Court

Two men, Zweli Sangweni and Phumlani Mfeka, members of the African-consciousness group Mazibuye African Forum have been accused of inciting racial hatred. The case was postponed at the Durban Equality Court after the two men claimed that they needed more time to prepare for the trial and speak to their attorneys.
News24

Internet blackout in two Anglophone regions in Cameroon reaches day 39

The internet shutdown in two Anglophone regions in Cameroon is still continuing. According to a report by Afex, on 24 February, the ban had reached day 39.
Afex