By Everline Wanja Muriithi
When we first set out to map press freedom violations across Africa, I did not fully anticipate how personal the work would become.
The process of reviewing case files, verifying incident reports, and placing pins across East, West, Southern, and Central Africa was not just about statistics; these were women whose lives were on the line!
Behind every data point was a woman: an investigative reporter, a radio broadcaster, a photojournalist, or a digital creator, taking real risks to inform the public.
Each marker was a reminder of the ever-increasing threats, representing not only an attack on the press but also a threat to someone’s livelihood, safety, dignity, and psychological well-being
During the last phase of the mapping, I focused on the specific vulnerabilities women journalists face in their daily work.
These violations are not always the same as general attacks on the press. For women in media, the threats often come from two directions at once: intimidation in the field and abuse online.
As I documented incidents involving arbitrary detention, tear gas during protests, coordinated doxxing, and smear campaigns, the essence of documentation dawned on me; without a record, these cases become easily dismissed, minimized, or forgotten.
Some of the cases that stayed with me involved women reporters who were detained, harassed, or threatened while investigating sensitive state operations and conflict-affected areas.
A chilling one was the case of Mali’s Mariam Cisse, who was abducted on November 7th, 2025, and publicly executed the following day by suspected jihadist rebels in Northern Mali. She was targeted after posting videos on TikTok expressing support for the Malian Military.
They accused her of being a spy for the national military, seized her while live streaming at a local market in Tonka, and killed her before a crowd.
Another experience that also demonstrates the volatile environment women journalists are exposed to is one in Ethiopia involving Sheger FM journalists, Radio Editor Tigist Zerihun, and her reporter
They were detained for three weeks before being released on bail. Shegher FM 102.1 is Ethiopia’s first private radio station founded by a veteran female journalist, Meaza Birru.
Editor Tigist at the station was arrested by Ethiopian police on the 3rd September 2025, at her home in Addis Ababa after they raided her newsroom, also arresting reporter Mintamir Tsegaw and head of news Eshete Assefa.
They were accused of airing a report that was deemed an attack on the government.
The report that had been aired on the 29th of August 2025 was about demands for improved pay and conditions by health professionals.
According to the Ethiopian Media Authority, this report constituted incitement to violence.
They were detained and charged with allegations of terrorism; the Supreme Court ordered their release, rejecting the police appeal to detain them.
These accounts demonstrate the lethal lawlessness women face from violent extremists who regard female digital voices as a security threat.
The Ethiopian journalists highlight a subtle institutionalized violence. The state utilizes legal mechanisms, terrorism allegations, and arbitrary detentions to systematically attack the spaces where independent women journalists operate.
Mapping these cases pushes these incidents beyond the numbers and forces us to recognize the resilience of women who continue reporting despite the cost.
As we continue to update the map for 2026, my commitment is stronger than ever. I am ready to return to the field data, track emerging cases, verify new reports, and keep these cases on the women journalists who continue to work under pressure visible.
Their stories must remain documented and difficult to discount!
Everlyne Wanja Muriithi is a Communications and International Relations professional currently working in Growth.
She is a key contributor to the regional mapping project, documenting the safety and experiences of female journalists across Africa.