Amnesty International issued a statement on Saturday criticize the ongoing harassment, arbitrary arrests and detention of independent journalists in several countries in Eastern and Southern Africa. In particular, the organization reported an increase in internet blockings and shutdowns, as well as the use of suppressive measures Cybersecurity laws Limiting media freedom, especially in countries where this was the case Choose in 2025 and 2026.
There are restrictions on media freedom throughout East and South Africa intensified through a range of repressive measures, including the arbitrary withdrawal of media licenses, the arrest and arbitrary detention of journalists, unlawful surveillance, enforced disappearances, internet shutdowns and the abuse of online regulatory laws. These developments suggest that the problem is not limited to isolated cases in individual countries, but reflects a broader regional and structural pattern of attacks on press freedom.
The countries mentioned include EthiopiaTanzania, Uganda, Zimbabwe and Sudan. In Zimbabwe, for example, journalists were reportedly subjected to harassment and violence during a public hearing on proposed constitutional changes affecting presidential term extensions and the presidential election process.
Tigere Chagutah, Amnesty International’s regional director for Eastern and Southern Africa, highlighted the lack of accountability in all cases of attacks on journalists, warning that increasing hostility towards the media is jeopardizing access to information and weakening accountability. Chagutah said: “Journalism is not a crime. Amnesty International reiterates its call on the authorities in the region to immediately release all journalists detained for their work, annul their convictions and sentences, and drop ongoing charges against them. They must also refrain from enacting laws that restrict media freedom.”
The ongoing attacks on journalists signal a broader attack on democratic freedoms. As Amnesty International Stresses that protecting the press is not optional – it is essential for accountability, transparency and the protection of fundamental rights.
Looking forward, the protection of press freedom in Eastern and Southern Africa will likely depend on the extent to which States align their national laws and practices with regional and international human rights obligations, including those related to freedom of expression and access to information. Instruments such as the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights, together with the jurisprudence of regional bodies, provide a clear legal framework against arbitrary detention, censorship and undue restrictions on the media.
