On Wednesday 16 February, an unidentified group threw a firebomb at journalist Rodolfo Zambrano’s home in Bolivar. He was unharmed as he was not there at the time. The attack caused damage to the exterior of his house, but firefighters were able to stop the flames from spreading inside. Journalists frequently face harassment in the South American country. Reporters without Borders has placed Colombia in 145th place out of 178 countries for press freedom.
Afghan police are searching for the men who threw acid on a prominent Afghan TV reporter and author. Tuesday’s attack on Razaq Mamoon has left his face disfigured. Mamoon is the author of The Footprint of Pharaoh, which criticises Iranian interference in Afghanistan, he has allegedly claimed that his attackers were Iranian agents.
A radio commentator renowned for his popular satirical broadcasts was stabbed in Luanda last Friday. António Manuel Manuel Da Silva is a government critic and his Friday broadcast attacked the Angolan president’s failure to address crime and corruption. The stabbing occurred after Da Silva’s assailant confronted him about his programme. Alexandre Neto, his station’s director, claims Da Silva had recently received two death threats. Since September two other Angolan journalists have been attacked, one fatally, for criticising the government.