In 2025, journalists, human rights defenders, and activists across Africa faced increasing intimidation and arrests as governments cracked down on dissent, a report by CIVICUS reveals.
The study identifies Kenya and Somalia as countries where media workers and civil society actors faced particularly high risks, especially during protests and when reporting on sensitive political issues.
The report documents that at least 33 countries in sub-Saharan Africa saw journalists detained, while at least 16 countries reported attacks on reporters. Arrests were concentrated in East Africa and the Horn of Africa, with Somalia accounting for the highest number, followed closely by Kenya.
“Authorities in countries including the DRC, Somalia and Somaliland continued to arrest journalists as a tactic to intimidate and silence them,” the report states.
CIVICUS highlights that public protests on governance, corruption, economic hardships, and service delivery often met with violent responses.
In Kenya, crackdowns on youth-led demonstrations commemorating the 2024 protests resulted in at least 65 deaths, over 600 injuries, and more than 1,500 arrests between June and July 2025. Some detainees faced terrorism-related charges.
Three human rights defenders, Mark Amiani, Francis Mwangi, and John Mulingwa Nzau, were arrested in June 2025 after protests over Albert Ojwang’s death.
Ojwang, a blogger and teacher, had been detained over a social media post involving a senior police officer and died in custody the following day from injuries consistent with blunt force trauma, igniting protests nationwide.
The report warns that these actions are shrinking civic and media space, undermining legal protections and spreading fear. “Governments should take measures to foster a safe, respectful and enabling environment in which civil society activists and journalists can operate freely without fear of attacks, harassment, intimidation or reprisals, in line with international human rights commitments,” it reads.
Somalia recorded 70 of the 180 journalist arrests documented across the region. From January to April 2025, 46 journalists were detained, two were kidnapped, and numerous media houses were raided.
Security forces targeted reporters covering protests in Mogadishu, including employees from Five Somali TV, Goobjoog Media, Himilo Somali TV, RNN TV, Shabelle TV, Somali Cable TV, and SYL TV.
In May 2025, the National Intelligence and Security Agency raided the homes and studios of journalists Mohamed Omar Baakaay and Bashir Ali Shire. Bashir was blindfolded and taken into custody, Baakaay’s brother was arrested, and equipment was confiscated.
In the Democratic Republic of Congo, arrests persisted despite pledges to decriminalize press offenses. Glody Ndaya of L’Association Congolaise des Femmes Journalistes de la Presse Écrite was detained on 4 August for alleged defamation and sent to Makala Central Prison without a summons. Journalists operating in eastern DRC under M23 control also faced threats, including the killing of Fiston Wilondja Mukamba in Bukavu.
Authorities increasingly employed cybercrime and restrictive laws to suppress online criticism. In Niger, six journalists were arrested on 30 October for allegedly distributing documents that could “disturb public order.”
Reporters were also attacked while covering protests in Madagascar, Togo, Mozambique, Ghana, Ethiopia, Lesotho, Liberia, Malawi, Uganda, and Zimbabwe. In Madagascar, journalist Hardi Juvaniah Reny was shot, and photojournalist Alain Rakotondrainabe was hit on the head during youth-led anti-government protests. French journalist Flore Monteau was arrested in Togo in June 2025 while filming police activities.
Human rights defenders were detained in at least 25 countries across Africa, often to silence or intimidate them.
“Democracy, environmental and labour rights activists were particularly targeted,” the report states. In Guinea, Abdoul Sacko was abducted and tortured in February 2025 for calling for a return to constitutional order.
In Mali, Aliou Badra Sacko was held secretly for two months. In Burkina Faso, Hermann Yaméogo was briefly detained by the National Intelligence Agency in July after criticizing the military regime online.
Mauritania sentenced Ahmed Ould Samba to one year in prison for a Facebook post alleging “racist and corrupt” policies. Poets, lawyers, and activists were also targeted, including Honoré Sitsopé Sokpor, Bob Kaben Massouka, Eron Kiiza, and Mounir Gharbi.
Deadly responses to protests were recorded in Angola, with at least 30 deaths and hundreds injured during fuel subsidy demonstrations. In the Gambia, peaceful protests over high internet data charges led to arrests, including rapper Ali Cham and journalist Yusuf Taylor.
Political tensions and elections contributed to further repression. In Togo, rapper Aamron was detained and allegedly tortured for nearly a month after posting a video calling for protests.
During protests surrounding the October election in Cameroon, security forces arrested at least 158 people, with four killed by live ammunition. Student and environmental protests also triggered arrests in Uganda and South Africa.
CIVICUS also notes a trend of cross-border repression. Kenya and Uganda were implicated in the abduction of Ugandan opposition leader Kizza Besigye from Nairobi. Suspected Tanzanian agents reportedly abducted and assaulted Kenyan activist Boniface Mwangi and Ugandan journalist Agather Atuhaire in Dar es Salaam.
Kenya also faced criticism for deporting Martin Mavenjina, a senior legal adviser at the Kenya Human Rights Commission, to Uganda, seen as politically motivated. Sudan, Comoros, Côte d’Ivoire, and Benin were cited for targeting exiled dissidents, journalists, and activists.
The report urges governments to protect the right to protest and freedom of expression, safeguard human rights defenders, and hold perpetrators accountable. “Respect the right of people to protest in solidarity with people in the Occupied Palestinian Territories and refrain from arrests, vilification and violence towards HRDs and protesters.
Cease conflating legitimate criticism of the state of Israel with antisemitism and extremism,” the report states. “Repeal any legislation that hinders the work of civil society and criminalises HRDs, journalists, protesters and members of excluded groups.”
