The Africa Media Development Foundation (AMDF) has raised urgent concerns over what it describes as the worsening state of press freedom across Africa, warning that the safety and independence of journalists on the continent are under serious threat.
In a statement released to mark World Press Freedom Day 2026, the organization said findings from its Africa-wide Press Freedom Tracker and other monitoring platforms point to a consistent decline in media freedom, with journalists increasingly exposed to violence, repression, and systemic restrictions.
Rising Violence and Repression
According to AMDF’s latest data covering 2025–2026, Sudan recorded the highest number of journalist killings on the continent, alongside the largest number of missing media professionals, highlighting the dangers faced by reporters operating in conflict zones.
The report also identifies Eritrea as Africa’s leading jailer of journalists, where arbitrary and prolonged detention continues without accountability.
Across the Sahel region, particularly in Niger, Mali, and Burkina Faso, AMDF noted that military-led governments have intensified crackdowns on independent media, restricting access to information and silencing dissenting voices.
Similarly, in the Great Lakes region, including the Democratic Republic of Congo, Rwanda, and Burundi, journalism is increasingly being criminalized, with reporters facing harassment, prosecution, and intimidation.
Nigeria Among High-Risk Environments
In West Africa, Nigeria was singled out as one of the most dangerous environments for journalists, with frequent attacks attributed to both state and non-state actors.
AMDF further identified Eritrea, Djibouti, Sudan, Ethiopia, and Rwanda as the most critical countries for press freedom, where journalists face heightened risks of detention, torture, or death, and independent reporting remains heavily restricted.
Call for Urgent Collective Action
“The evidence across multiple trackers, including our own, points to a single conclusion: press freedom in Africa is under serious threat,” AMDF said in the statement. “These are not isolated developments but part of a wider pattern that demands urgent and collective action.”
The organization called on African governments to uphold constitutional and international commitments to freedom of expression, while urging the African Union and regional bodies to take decisive measures against violations.
It also appealed to the international community to strengthen protection mechanisms for at-risk journalists, and encouraged civil society and media organizations to deepen cross-border collaboration and solidarity.
Democracy at Stake
AMDF emphasized that protecting journalists is fundamental to safeguarding democracy, warning that without a free and independent press, transparency, accountability, and sustainable development cannot be achieved.
The foundation reiterated its commitment to advancing press freedom, strengthening media systems, and protecting journalists across Africa, as concerns continue to mount over the future of independent journalism on the continent.
Read more about the data report: https://pressfreedom.amdf-centre.org/
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