In what seems like a purge, South Africa’s Independent News and Media (INM) group is shedding many of its foremost journalists and commentators. Simultaneously, the company’s newspapers have stepped up coverage of the personal ruminations of its new chairperson, Dr Iqbal Survé. Christi van der Westhuizen reports
Teacher’s unions have come out guns blazing against a government directive for schools to use mother tongue as the main language of instruction in lower classes, writes Duke Mangera
While testing Kenya’s eagerness to confront the legacy of 2007 these cases offer up a further test; the ability of Kenya’s media institutions, journalists and citizens to freely interrogate the proceedings. Nik Williams reports
After countless missed deadlines, Zambia is finally making progress towards a new constitution. But real change will require more than just a piece of paper. Paul Carlucci of Think Africa Press reports on the progress
Legal challenge expected against “draconian” new regulator, Duke Mangera writes
Two people could face up to five years in prison for selling the film
Barely three weeks after Gambia’s president Yahya Jammeh announced the lifting of the ban on two private media institutions — the Standard Newspaper and Terranga FM — the government arrested two journalists, Buya Jammeh reports
“We believe the Kenyan public deserves better,” says the Kenya Film Classification Board
Facebook has nearly 1.2 billion monthly active users –that’s nearly 20% of the total global population. Yet, in some countries harsh sanctions and time in jail can be imposed on those who comment on social media, in the majority of cases for speaking out against their government.
The rebel group said anyone who doesn’t comply will be “considered to be working with the enemy and they will be dealt with in accordance Sharia law”
Freedom of expression in Africa. Index on Censorship covers free speech, freedom of religion, artistic freedom on the continent of Africa.