Press

 

     The Press Freedom Index in 2020 noted that the year was a decisive one for the future of journalism, with the pandemic and a variety of electoral and social justice issues highlighting successes and the need for improvement.

     In Africa, progress is being made. Senegal, Burkina Faso, Ghana, Namibia, Botswana, and South Africa report satisfactory situations on par with nations like the UK, the United States, Canada, Australia, and France. Other nations, including Kenya, Ethiopia, Madagascar, Angola, The Gambia, Tunisia, and Malawi, have noticeable difficulties but are, albeit slowly, implementing reforms to improve the situation.

     War-torn countries like Morocco, Nigeria, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo, as well as other nations, including Tanzania, Benin, and Gabon, report difficult situations for journalists. Libya, Egypt, Sudan, Burundi, Equatorial Guinea, and Somalia are the last six nations on the continent to report very severe situations in which journalists are routinely arrested, tortured, assassinated, executed, or outlawed. 

     While progress continues to be made, the issue is one of the most important, as it helps highlight and correct issues in any free nation, and continuous collaboration and pressure is needed to ensure people doing the work of the people are protected.