Press freedom in Africa: Which countries enjoy it the most?

The 21st edition of the World Press Freedom Index was released earlier this month.

It sheds light on major, sometimes radical changes linked to political, social and technological upheavals in different regions around the world.

The 2023 World Press Freedom Index – compiled annually by Reporters Without Borders (RSF) – evaluates the environment for journalism in 180 countries and territories.

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The latest stats show the situation is “very serious” in 31 countries, “difficult” in 42, “problematic” in 55 and “good” or “satisfactory” in 52 countries. In other words, the environment for journalism is “bad” in seven out of ten countries, and satisfactory in only three out of ten.

HOW IS AFRICA FARING IN TERMS OF PRESS FREEDOM?

According to the Index, these are the top 10 African countries when it comes to press freedom:

1. Namibia (22nd)
2. South Africa (25th)
3. Cape Verde (33)
4. Seychelles (34)
5. Gambia (46)
6. Ivory Coast (54th)
7. Burkina Faso (58th)
8. Niger (61st)
9. Ghana (62)
10. Mauritius (63rd)

Africa has seen a few significant rises, and an honourable mention goes to Botswana (65th) which has risen 35 places, while Lesotho comes in just behind in 67th place.

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eSwatini and Zimbabwe are languishing in the bottom half of the Index, at 111th and 126th respectively.

According to RSF, press freedom and journalism overall has become more difficult in the continent and the situation is now classified as “bad” in nearly 40% of its countries (against 33% in 2022).

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They include Burkina Faso (58th), where local retransmission of international broadcasters has been banned and journalists have been deported, and the Sahel in general, which is in the process of becoming a “no-news zone”. Several journalists have also been murdered in Africa, including Martinez Zongo in Cameroon (138th). In Eritrea (174th), the media remain in President Issaias Afwerki’s despotic grip.

WHO IS AT THE TOP AND WHO GETS THE WOODEN SPOON?

The country that enjoys the most press freedom in the world in once again, Norway – ranked first for the seventh year running. Unusually, a non-Nordic country is ranked second, namely Ireland (up 4 places at 2nd), ahead of Denmark (down 1 place at 3rd). The Netherlands (6th) has risen 22 places, recovering the position it held in 2021, before crime reporter Peter R. de Vries was murdered.

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At the bottom of the Index, the last three places are taken up by Asian countries: Vietnam (178th), which has almost completed its hunt of independent reporters and commentators; China (down 4 at 179th), the world’s biggest jailer of journalists and one of the biggest exporters of propaganda content; and, to no big surprise, North Korea at 180th.

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