The Africa Media Development Foundation has issued a stark warning over what it describes as a rapid and troubling decline in press freedom across Africa, citing growing incidents of violence, repression, and systemic restrictions targeting journalists on the continent.
In a statement released on Sunday in Kaduna to mark the 2026 World Press Freedom Day, the Foundation’s Press Freedom Manager, Zhiroh Jatau, said the organisation’s findings point to an increasingly hostile environment for media practitioners.
According to the statement, a comprehensive review of data drawn from multiple monitoring platforms, including the Foundation’s Africa-wide Press Freedom Tracker, revealed a consistent and alarming deterioration in the state of media freedom across several African countries.
“The evidence across multiple trackers, including our own, points to a single conclusion: press freedom in Africa is under serious threat,” Jatau said, underscoring the urgency of the situation.
The Foundation highlighted that journalists across the continent are facing a growing range of risks, from arbitrary arrests and harassment to physical attacks and, in extreme cases, killings. These dangers, it noted, are particularly acute in regions affected by armed conflict, political instability, and weak institutional protections.
Of grave concern, the report identified Sudan as the deadliest country in Africa for journalists in 2025, recording the highest number of media-related killings during the year. The Foundation also pointed to a disturbing rise in the number of missing journalists, many of whom were reportedly working in volatile environments where accountability mechanisms remain limited or nonexistent.
The situation in Sudan, according to the group, reflects a broader pattern in conflict zones where journalists are often caught in the crossfire or deliberately targeted for their reporting. The lack of adequate protection for media workers in such areas has exacerbated the risks, leaving many vulnerable to violence and intimidation.
Beyond physical threats, the Foundation raised concerns over what it described as “systemic restrictions” imposed by governments and other powerful actors. These include the use of restrictive laws, censorship, digital surveillance, and economic pressure to silence critical voices and control the flow of information.
Jatau noted that in several countries, journalists are increasingly being subjected to legal harassment, including charges such as defamation, cybercrime violations, and national security offenses, tools that are often used to stifle investigative reporting and dissent.
“The shrinking civic space in many African countries is directly impacting the ability of journalists to operate freely and safely,” he added. “Without a free press, citizens are denied access to accurate information, and democratic accountability is weakened.”
The Foundation also warned that the growing trend of misinformation and disinformation has further complicated the media landscape, with some governments using it as justification to introduce tighter controls on the press, measures that often end up curbing legitimate journalism.
As part of its recommendations, the organisation called on African governments to uphold their constitutional and international obligations to protect press freedom and ensure the safety of journalists. It urged authorities to conduct thorough investigations into attacks on media workers and bring perpetrators to justice.
The group also appealed to regional bodies, civil society organisations, and the international community to intensify efforts aimed at defending media freedom and supporting journalists operating in high-risk environments.
Marking this year’s World Press Freedom Day, the Foundation stressed that safeguarding journalism is not only about protecting reporters but also about preserving democracy, transparency, and human rights across the continent.
“Journalists are the frontline defenders of truth,” the statement concluded. “Allowing press freedom to erode unchecked poses a serious risk to governance, development, and peace in Africa.”
As concerns mount, the warning by the Africa Media Development Foundation adds to growing calls for urgent action to reverse the decline and ensure that journalists can carry out their work without fear, an essential pillar for any functioning society.
