Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger are governed by military authorities that came to power through coups. The media in the Central Sahel countries is under unprecedented repression. Media trade associations have been dissolved and foreign correspondents expelled. Four journalists were forcibly conscripted into the Burkina Faso's army in 2024. Abdoulaye O* left his country of his own free will. Ousmane B* has been living in exile for several months.
In 2008, when she was a reporter for a leading Ukrainian TV station, she followed Barack Obamaās campaign for US president. She went on to cover four more US elections. She was shocked by how the conversation around access to affordable health care and education has become radicalised in the US. In Ukraine, the war claims the lives of soldiers every day and resources are scarce, but the poor contribute what they can to support fellow citizens.
Amnesty International interviewed 33 people based in Kampala city, Rubaga, Luwero, Bulenga, Mityana, Mukono, Rukiga, Mbarara, Luuka, Wakiso, Lira and Tororo districts and Busoga region. They interviewed families of victims apparently killed by security forces and victims of gunshot injuries, torture and other ill-treatment. They also reviewed charge sheets and official statements.
Khonumthung Media Group, Chin World and Myatmaukkhit News Agency's publication licenses were revoked on April 9. The Committee to Protect Journalists calls on Myanmar's junta to restore them and stop persecution of independent media groups. The junta has revoked the licenses of several independent news outlets since seizing power and suspending democracy in a 2021 coup.
Thibaut Bruttin is the director general of Reporters Without Borders. He spoke to FRANCE 24 to mark the International Day to End Impunity for Crimes Against Journalists. This year, RFS is unveiling a list of 34 people who attacked journalists and the right to information in 2025.
Aleksandar Tanev is the founder of Students Against the Mafia, an informal student organisation that took part in mass protests against corruption and state capture in Bulgaria. He is a Russian-Bulgarian citizen, his father is Bulgarian and his mother is Russian. He lived in Bulgaria until he was five years old and then in Russia, where he lived until a few years ago. He worked at the Bulgarian Red Cross helping Ukrainian refugees and then at Sofia University. He was evacuated to Bulgaria on a humanitarian flight.
For the first time in RSF's 25-year history, more than half the world's countries fall into the 'difficult' or 'very serious' categories for press freedom. The share of population living in a country where the press freedom situation is considered "good" has plunged from 20% to less than 1%. Only seven countries in Northern Europe, led by Norway, fall into this category. Russia has become a specialist in using laws designed to combat terrorism, separatism and extremism to restrict press freedom, RSF warns.
After military officers staged a coup in Mali, they ordered French troops to leave the country, ending a nearly decade-long Western-led anti-terrorism operation. The junta turned to Russia for help quelling an Islamist insurgency, but the militants have only gained strength. Over the weekend, a powerful al-Qaeda affiliate launched its most shocking offensive in nearly 15 years, killing the defense minister and forcing mercenaries to retreat from several key cities.