The year 2025 continues to witness an alarming escalation of threats to press freedom across the globe, with several African countries experiencing some of the worst crackdowns on independent journalism and press freedom.
- Business Insider Africa presents 10 African countries with declining press freedom
- The list is courtesy of the World Press Freedom Index by Reporters Without Borders
- African countries like Cameroon, Rwanda, and Somalia remain hostile environments for journalists due to ongoing conflicts and restrictive laws.
At the core of this attack on press freedom as seen in some African countries is a complex interplay of factors, including political regimes tightening control over information, inaccessible legal systems, and the exertion of state and corporate influence to coerce the media into compliance, particularly in conflict-ridden or authoritarian states.
According to the latest World Press Freedom Index by Reporters Without Borders (RSF), press freedom in several African countries has deteriorated significantly, marked by some of the lowest global scores and a rising toll of detained and killed journalists.
This decline is attributed to state censorship, legal crackdowns, insecurity, and financial pressures, which ultimately compromises media independence and economic viability.
Notably; RSF’s global ranking and scoring system assesses 180 countries based on five key indicators: political context, legal framework, economic situation, sociocultural conditions, and safety.
Business Insider Africa highlights 10 African Countries where Press decline have reached alarming heights, based on their latest rankings, press freedom scores, and the number of journalists killed or detained this year:
| Country | Index Score | Global Rank | No. of Journalists Killed or Detained |
|---|---|---|---|
| Eritrea | 11.32 | 180 | 14 detained |
| Egypt | 24.74 | 170 | 20 detained |
| Rwanda | 35.85 | 146 | 3 detained |
| Ethiopia | 36.92 | 145 | 6 detained |
| Libya | 40.42 | 137 | 1 detained |
| Somalia | 40.49 | 136 | 5 detained |
| DR Congo | 42.31 | 133 | 1 killed / 4 detained |
| Cameroon | 42.75 | 131 | 4 detained |
| Tunisia | 43.48 | 129 | 4 detained |
| Nigeria | 46.81 | 122 | 5 detained |
The 2025 RSF Press Freedom Barometer reveals the scale of the crisis:
- 18 journalists have been killed globally since January
- 534 are detained worldwide, including dozens across Africa
- Over 40 African journalists currently imprisoned
- Many African journalists now operate in exile due to safety risks
A Continental Crisis
Eritrea remains at the bottom of the global rankings, characterized by a complete absence of a functioning press and the prolonged detention of at least 14 journalists without trial. Notable cases include Dawit Isaak and Seyoum Tsehaye, who have been imprisoned for decades.
Egypt follows closely, maintaining a harsh grip on its media environment through military and political control. Currently, 20 journalists are detained under anti-terror and state security laws, while many independent media outlets have been shut down or forced out of the country.
In Ethiopia, ongoing conflict and rising authoritarianism have reversed years of press reform. Six journalists, including Dawit Begashaw, are currently detained.
Cameroon, Ethiopia, Rwanda, and Somalia are consistently ranked among the most perilous for press freedom, plagued by ongoing conflicts and draconian laws that instill fear in reporters.
The Democratic Republic of Congo has tragically lost one journalist, Patrick Adonis Numbi of Pamoja TV, this year, underscoring the precarious environment in conflict zones like eastern DRC.
Nigeria, Africa’s largest democracy, has dropped 10 places in the global ranking this year. According to RSF, five journalists are currently detained, and media independence is being undermined by financial dependence on state and corporate advertisers.
As Reporters Without Borders (RSF) continuously collects global information on abuses against journalists, updating its press freedom barometer daily, it highlights the need for increased protection and support for media professionals worldwide due to ongoing threats and violence against journalists, In Africa and beyond.
Olamilekan Okebiorun
