August 24
Benin: Cyber Activist Released After Serving Two-Year Prison Sentence
Beninese cyber activist Steve Amoussou was released from prison on August 20, 2026, after serving a two-year sentence for allegedly creating and managing a Facebook page critical… Read more »
September 04
Togo: Two French Filmmakers and Their Fixer Granted Provisional Release
More than a month after their arrest in northern Togo, the two French filmmakers, Gaël Mocaër and Sebastian Perez Pezzani, of the production company Tony Comiti… Read more »
September 01
Niger: Journalist Released After Nearly Ten Months in Detention
The Media Foundation for West Africa (MFWA) welcomes the release of Ibro Chaibou, newsroom manager of Saraounia TV, on August 28, 2026, after nearly ten months in detention. Read more »
September 10
Niger: MFWA Calls for Investigation Into Journalist's Disappearance
The Media Foundation for West Africa (MFWA) is deeply concerned for the safety of Nigerien journalist Moussa Kaka, Director-General of Radio-Télévision Saraounia… Read more »
August 24
Togo: Two French Journalists and Their Togolese Guide Detained Over Administrative Irregularities
Two French journalists, Gaël Mocaër and Sebastian Perez Pezzani, who work for the press agency Tony Comiti Productions, and their Togolese guide, Fred Vedomey, were… Read more »
September 07
West Africa: MFWA Establishes Ghs 544,000 Legal Support Fund for Journalists in Ghana
The Media Foundation for West Africa (MFWA) has established a Legal Support Fund with an allocation of approximately GHS 544,000. The Fund responds to growing concerns about the… Read more »
August 18
Mali: Columnist, Activist Jailed for Seven Years After Three-Year Detention
After being in detention for more than three years, Columnist and radio host Mohamed Youssouf Bathily, popularly known as Ras Bath, and activist Rokia Doumbia, also known as Rose… Read more »
August 14
Guinea: Activist Arrested for Allegedly Insulting an Imam
On August 8, 2026, armed men were wearing military uniforms and masks abducted activist and school teacher Bella Bah in a private school where he serves as principal. Read more »
August 07
Senegal: Three Supporters of Opposition Party Sentenced for Offending the President
On August 5, 2026, the Dakar Court sentenced three supporters of Senegal's Pastef party who are also commentators for Feeñal Digital TV over a video deemed offensive to… Read more »
August 14
West Africa: State, Determinants, Dynamics, and Fate of Media and Free Expression Rights in Burkina Faso, Mali, Niger and Guinea
This report examines the state of press freedom and freedom of expression in Burkina Faso, Mali, Niger and Guinea, four West African countries under military-led governments that… Read more »
August 03
Nigeria: Police Ordered to Pay Journalist U.S.$ 8,800 for Unlawful Arrest
A High Court in Abuja, Nigeria, on July 29, 2026, ordered the Nigeria Police Force to pay ₦12 million (about US$8,800) to journalist Kasarahchi Aniagolu as damages and litigation… Read more »
August 12
West Africa: 616 Days in Pre-Trial Detention, the Case of Activist Moussa Tchangari
It has been 616 days since Moussa Tchangari, an activist and secretary general of the civil society group Alternative Espaces Citoyens, was detained at the Filingue Prison in the… Read more »
July 29
West Africa: Police Fire Gunshots, Arrest Students During Nursing College Welfare Protest
A protest by trainees of the Techiman Krobo Nursing and Midwifery Training College turned violent on July 27, 2026, after officers of the Ghana Police Service fired gunshots while… Read more »
August 06
West Africa: Journalist Jailed One Year for Criticising Use of Cybercrime Law Against Journalists
On August 3, 2026, Mali's National Cybercrime court in Bamako sentenced journalist Chahana Takiou to twelve months in prison after he criticised the judiciary's use of cybercrime… Read more »
July 28
West Africa: The State of Freedom of Expression in West Africa - April-June 2026
The Media Foundation for West Africa (MFWA), under its Freedom of Expression and Digital Rights Programme, monitors, documents and reports on threats and attacks against the right… Read more »
July 21
Cote d'Ivoire: Digital Activist Granted Provisional Release Pending Court of Appeal Decision
Ivorian digital activist Ibrahim Zigui, a member of the opposition PPA-CI party has been granted provisional release by the Abidjan Court of Appeal on July 6, 2026, less than two… Read more »
July 30
West Africa: MFWA Annual Report - 2025
In 2025, the Media Foundation for West Africa continued to advance press freedom, accountable governance, and social justice across the region despite mounting threats to… Read more »
July 23
West Africa: Political Party Activist Granted Bail Over Alleged False Publication
An activist of the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC) in Ghana, Prince Aboagye, has been granted bail by an Accra Circuit Court following his arrest over alleged offensive… Read more »
July 22
Ghana: Another TikToker Granted Bail Over Remarks About President and First Lady
The Accra Circuit Court has granted TikToker Rita Konadu, popularly known as "Mama One," GH¢50,000 (US$4,305.41) bail with two sureties after she appeared in court over… Read more »
July 17
Niger: Two Journalists Released After Eight Months in Detention
Two Nigerien journalists, Youssouf Seriba, Publishing Director of Les Échos du Niger, and Oumarou Kané, founder of Le Hérisson, have been released from Kollo… Read more »
July 22
Ghana: TikTok Content Creator Re-Arrested Over Alleged Offensive Conduct
Ghanaian TikToker Mahama Aminat, also known as "Bawumia Ba," has been re-arrested by the Ghana Police Service on July 17, 2026. Read more »
July 03
West Africa: Journalist Apprehended in Abuja After Publication of Investigative Report
At about 6 p.m. on July 1, 2026, men in plainclothes suspected to be security operatives stopped Stanley Ugabe, a journalist and reporter with Secrets Reporters, an online news… Read more »
July 10
West Africa: Apprehended Journalist Found After Six Days - Police Summon Publisher Over Same Investigation
After six days of incommunicado detention, Stanley Ugagbe, a reporter with Secrets Reporters, was located at the Nigeria Police Force National Cybercrime Centre (NPF-NCCC) in Abuja… Read more »
July 17
West Africa: TikToker Jailed for a Year Over False Claims Against President
The Accra Circuit Court has sentenced 43-year-old TikToker, Camilla Alhassan, to one year in prison for sharing false claims about President John Dramani Mahama. Read more »
July 13
West Africa: Opposition MPs Granted Presidential Clemency After Arrest for Criticising President
President Mohamed Ould Cheikh El Ghazouani, on July 9, 2026, granted presidential clemency to two opposition Members of Parliament (MPs), Mariem Mint Cheikh Dieng and Ghamou Achour… Read more »
Media Foundation for West Africa (Accra)
Website: http://www.mfwa.org/
