The year 2022 was particularly dark for journalists all over Africa, harassed, oppressed and arrested. The year 2023 begins with a heinous crime. 

Cameroonian journalist Martinez Zogo was found dead on Sunday, January 22, 2023. The director general of AMPLITUDE FM radio, had been kidnapped on Tuesday, January 17, 2023, in front of a gendarmerie post in Yaoundé.

Martinez Zogo hosted a daily radio show with high ratings called “Embouteillage” where he denounced the management of the city’s affairs. On air, this engaged journalist regularly discussed corruption cases, not shying away from naming prominent figures. 

This despicable crime once again highlights the lack of respect for freedom of expression in most African countries. AfricTivistes recalls that the right to freedom of expression is protected by Article 19 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and Article 9 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights. The African Union’s Declaration of Principles on Freedom of Expression in Africa in its point ten (10) recalls that “attacks such as murder, kidnapping, intimidation and threats against journalists or other persons exercising their right to freedom of expression undermine independent journalism, freedom of expression and the free flow of information to the public. According to the AU declaration, governments are required to take appropriate actions to prevent such attacks, to investigate them when they occur, and to investigate and punish the perpetrators. 

The death of Rwandan investigative journalist John Williams Ntwali was announced three days before Martinez Zogo’s body was found. He was killed in a motorcycle accident, according to the police, who did not provide details on the circumstances surrounding the accident. John Williams Ntwali was also one of the few journalists to independently cover high-profile trials of political opponents, journalists and commentators. As a result, he was regularly threatened and attacked in the pro-government media for his investigative work.

This spiral of violence against journalists is deeply disturbing. The safety of media professionals everywhere on the African continent must be ensured so that they can exercise their profession in complete freedom and always with professionalism.

AfricTivistes calls on the Cameroonian authorities to shed light on the case of Mr. Martinez Zogo so that the perpetrators of this assassination are quickly apprehended, prosecuted, tried and sentenced.

This spiral of violence against journalists is more than disturbing. The safety of media professionals everywhere on the African continent must be ensured so that they can practice their profession in complete freedom and always with professionalism.

AfricTivistes urges the Cameroonian authorities to shed light on the case of Mr. Martinez Zogo so that the perpetrators of this murder are quickly apprehended, prosecuted, tried and sentenced.

This alarming report on the situation of freedom of journalists and media in Africa is disheartening to AfricTivistes which strongly condemns these attempts to muzzle media actors. These indications point to a democratic backsliding and a shrinking of the civic space in the countries of the region. 

AfricTivistes thus strongly condemns these serious impediments to press freedom and recalls that freedom of expression is a fundamental human right guaranteed by the Constitutions and by the fundamental international instruments and conventions ratified by the various African States.

AfricTivistes calls on the African authorities to protect all stakeholders of the information society in exercising their profession and urges them to guarantee the physical and moral integrity of the above-mentioned journalists so that they can continue to freely exercise their profession without threats.

We call on the AU in accordance with the Declaration of Principles on Freedom of Expression to take the threats seriously and to work towards increased protection for journalists.

AfricTivistes extends its sincere condolences to the bereaved families and calls on African leaders and civil society organisations on the continent to work together to protect the African media sector in order to consolidate democracy in Africa, which is the only guarantee of peace and stability on the continent.