West Africa: Silencing the Watchdogs - a June 2025 Overview of West Africa

21 July 2025
Media Foundation for West Africa (Accra)

The Media Foundation for West Africa's (MFWA) monitoring of freedom of expression developments in West Africa in June 2025 recorded several incidents of freedom of expression abuses.

Specifically, the abuses recorded fell into three principal categories of violations: arrests, detention, and sentences; physical attacks; and suspension of media outlets. The violations were recorded across Togo, Benin, Mauritania, Sierra Leone, and Guinea.

Positive developments and redress were also observed, including an apology to an assaulted journalist in Sierra Leone and a significant ruling by the Senegal Supreme Court which overturned a media outlet's suspension order.

With support from the 11th Hour Project of The Schmidt Family Foundation, the MFWA continues to monitor and document these violations as part of efforts to promote a free and safe civic space in West Africa.

Access the full report here.

Read the original of this report, with tables and illustrations where appropriate.

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