Nigeria Among Top Seven African Countries With Highest Numbers Of Jailed Journalists In 2024

According to CPI, the 67 journalists detained in 2024 dropped slightly from a revised 2024 African jailers figure of 68 in 2023, but still trended upward compared to the 2022 revised figure of 57.

Nigeria has been ranked among African countries that recorded the highest number of jailed journalists, ranking seventh after Egypt, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Cameroon, Rwanda, and Tunisia. 

This was contained in a Committee to Protect Journalists’ (CPI) 2024 prison census report, which stated that no fewer than 67 journalists were imprisoned across Africa in connection with their work as of December 1, 2024.

According to CPI, the 67 journalists detained in 2024 dropped slightly from a revised 2024 African jailers figure of 68 in 2023, but still trended upward compared to the 2022 revised figure of 57.

The report stated that Egypt jailed 17 journalists; Eritrea jailed 16 journalists; Ethiopia jailed six; Cameroon, Rwanda and Tunisia jailed five journalists, while Nigeria jailed four journalists, and Algeria jailed two while Angola, Burundi, South Sudan, Democratic Republic Congo (DRC), Madagascar, Guinea, and Senegal jailed one journalist respectively.

The CPI report stated, “Most of the journalists detained in Africa are facing anti-state, criminal defamation, and false news charges.

“Eritrea remained among the worst jailers of journalists globally. Those held in Eritrea include some of the journalists imprisoned the longest anywhere in the world.

“Senegal features in CPJ's 2024 prison census after an investigation found that journalist René Capain Bassène is serving a life sentence for a crime witnesses say he could not have committed. CPJ has revised its records to include him in census data since his 2018 arrest.

“Five journalists detained in Ethiopia could face the death penalty if convicted of terrorism, while the sixth has been detained without charge.

“South Sudan journalist Emmanuel Monychol Akop has been held since November 2024, without appearing in court.

“Journalists detained in Cameroon are serving prison terms of between 10 and 32 years.

“Sandra Muhoza is imprisoned in Burundi for a WhatsApp post.

“Carlos Raimundo Alberto remained in prison in Angola for criminal defamation, despite qualifying for parole in mid-November 2024.

“Nigeria and Rwanda used cybercrime laws to detain journalists.

“Journalists detained in Rwanda and Senegal have alleged mistreatment behind bars, including beatings.”