By Lenser Loise For over one year, from June 2025 to June 2026, a team of women journalists across Africa documented online gender-based violence targeting women in the media. Their work revealed recurring patterns of harassment, intimidation, repeated attacks and the long fight for accountability. I was part of a selected team of female journalists from the International Association of Women in Radio and Television (IAWRT) Kenya Chapter, working alongside colleagues from several other African countries conducting the mapping. To ensure all the regions in Africa were covered, we divided ourselves into four crosses (East, West, North and South). My role involved tracking cases, verifying information, checking in on victims and monitoring what happened after incidents were reported in the 17 western African countries. In situations where the online available information was not sufficient, I did a one-on-one follow-up, conducting over-the-phone interviews to verify developing cases. I consistently monitored different social media platforms (Facebook, Twitter and Instagram), taking screenshots of incidents, following up on reports and developments around cases that had already been mapped. There was always a sense that I might miss something: a post could appear at any time, a journalist could suddenly become the target of an online attack, or an incident that began online could quickly turn physical. For the better part of a year, I kept watching, checking, verifying, following up and documenting. Looking back at the cases I encountered, several patterns began to emerge. Elections Intensify Online Attacks Against Women Journalists One of the clearest trends I observed was the link between elections and increased attacks against women in the media. Whenever an election took place in an African country during our monitoring period, cases of targeted online and sometimes physical violence against women journalists and media workers were difficult to miss.  The political environment appeared to create an especially hostile space for female journalists and content creators. Freelance journalists and independent content creators appeared particularly vulnerable because they often lacked the institutional protection available to those working for larger media organisations. In some cases, the consequences were devastating, including incidents that ended in death, with one record being Mariam Cissé, a TikTok content creator who was killed in Mali after sharing her political views on her page with about 100,000 followers:  Women Behind the Camera Face Risks Too Another trend that stood out was that OGBV did not only affect women in front of the camera. Women working behind the scenes were also exposed to significant risks. Camera operators, photographers, producers and other media workers could find themselves directly caught up in political confrontations and attacks. The entire media production chain is exposed For Some Women, the Attacks Keep Returning Another pattern that became increasingly visible was the recurrence of attacks. Being targeted once did not always mean the harassment would end. I observed several instances where women journalists were targeted repeatedly, sometimes months or even years after the original incident. One case that stood out was that of Nigerian journalist Taiwo Aina Adeokun, who, according to details captured during the mapping exercise, had to lock her social media accounts after repeated attacks following her report on the New York Times Post: X Screengrab: One of the online narratives that pushed Taiwo to lock her X account on January 19, 2026. Our mapping showed that the risk does not always disappear. For some women, the internet remembers, and harassment can return whenever a new event brings their name or previous work back into public attention. Justice Can Be Slow, but Progress Is Possible When I began the mapping exercise, many of the cases we encountered appeared to be stuck. There were complaints with no visible progress, slow-moving investigations and victims who had been waiting for justice for long periods. Toward the end of our monitoring period, however, I began to see movement in some cases. In others, international organisations continued to raise concern, including the Committee to Protect Journalists, which urged the release of Tunisian journalist Chadha Hadj Mbarek over health concerns. Those developments mattered to us as a team. For months, I had been watching these cases, following updates and checking whether anything had changed. Seeing a case move forward was more than another database update; it was a reminder that persistence can matter. How X Became a Key Monitoring Tool Throughout the mapping exercise, X played an important role in helping me identify and monitor cases. As a platform built around real-time public conversation, it allowed us to see some incidents as they unfolded, but verification of sources was still mandatory. Citizens could report incidents from different parts of Africa, sometimes before those incidents appeared in mainstream media. In some instances, I identified and verified cases before they gained wider public attention. This made the platform particularly useful for my work. It allowed me to monitor conversations across countries without physically travelling to each location. For a team working across different parts of Africa, that access was invaluable. During quieter news periods, the number of cases we encountered generally reduced. But for journalists like me, this was an important distinction: a quiet news cycle does not necessarily mean women journalists are safe. It means monitoring must remain intentional. Report a case today on IAWRT’s observatory via report.iawrt.or.ke.  Loise Lenser is a freelance journalist who supports organisations to tell stories that highlight their work, impact, and the voices of the communities they serve.

By Stephanie Ayieta It has all led to this. The Fulbright Hubert H. Humphrey Fellow standing here today is the product of passion, faith, intentional mentorship, resilience, and a vision that ultimately gave birth to a leader. Photo: From Left: Nozipho (Eswatini), Vuk (Montenegro), Agnes (Hungary), Kabo (Botswana), Hamza (Morocco), Stephanie (Kenya), Sabikha (Bahrain), Sakeef (Sri Lanka), Junbeom (South Korea), Rosen (Bulgaria). Driven by Purpose over Visibility My story began as an 18-year-old girl with a strong conviction to become a journalist. I had no clear roadmap—only an unexplainable passion and the determination to keep moving forward despite fear and self-doubt. For me, journalism was never about being on screen or acquiring popularity. It was always about impact. I constantly asked myself: What can I do, in my position, with my skills and talent, to create lasting solutions? Discovering Technology and Policy In my quest for an answer, I fell in love with tech reporting. I focused on young innovators and entrepreneurs driving change across the country, highlighting how technology is revolutionizing our world and unlocking new opportunities. Through the guidance of incredible mentors, I grew from an emerging reporter who doubted her ability to cover complex topics into a recognized voice in the tech ecosystem. More importantly, this platform allowed me to shine a light on economic innovations, participate in policy discussions driving reform in the tech space, and mentor emerging journalists in ethical, purpose-driven reporting. The Power of Mentorship I owe much of this growth to the leaders who poured into my career: IAWRT Kenya Chapter: Through the digital skills training and exposure to Community Network podcasting in partnership with Tandanet, IAWRT sharpened my technical expertise and deepened my confidence. As one university lecturer noted during a joint mentorship program, “IAWRT Kenya may not be loud, but its impact on female professionals is priceless.” Rachel Nakitare: Former President of the International Association of Women in Radio and Television (IAWRT) and a Hubert Humphrey alumnus, whose advice, direction, and constant encouragement have been instrumental. Fredrick Ariro: TV Controller at KBC and my supervisor, who demonstrated the transformative power of servant leadership through daily observation and guidance. Living Effectively Mentorship Program (LEMP): My service and volunteering with LEMP helped shape my leadership capabilities, reinforcing my belief that in genuinely pouring out to others, blessings follow. Photo: Stephanie and colleagues in Arizona. A Strong Support System Behind every milestone is my family. They have been my cheerleaders, sounding board, and ultimate support system. Having people who believe in your potential—even when you struggle to see it yourself—is truly invaluable. None of this would be possible without my home at the Kenya Broadcasting Corporation. As Kenya’s public broadcaster, KBC is the voice of the Nation that connects millions of Kenyans through compelling stories that inform, educate and unites them.  Being part of that mission has given me the platform to connect with Kenyans,  and serve them with purpose. Representing Kenya on the Global Stage. This fellowship began as a leap of faith, driven by a desire to do more for my country. I am deeply honored to be selected as one of two fellows representing Kenya, and the sole representative for our nation’s journalism and communications sector. As I join global cohorts from Bahrain, Botswana, Bulgaria, Burundi, Eswatini, Hungary, Montenegro, Saudi Arabia, and beyond, I look forward to collaborating on international solutions and bringing that knowledge back home.   Stephanie Ayieta  is a multimedia journalist and TV host at the Kenya Broadcasting Corporation, where she leads Take on Tech, a show spotlighting African innovators and emerging technologies. Over five years, she has profiled more than 30 startups, giving them a national platform and helping them reach new audiences and investors. She also hosts a youth morning show on Y254, engaging listeners on issues shaping Kenyan society. Passionate about entrepreneurship and innovation, she champions media and technology partnerships that bridge the digital divide and strengthen Africa’s creative economy.Stephanie is currently a Hubert H. Humphrey Fellow at Arizona State University’s Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication, where she is deepening her expertise in media innovation, digital storytelling, and emerging technologies. During her fellowship, she is exploring how media and technology can equip young Kenyans with practical skills, connect them to opportunities in the digital economy, and strengthen their resilience against misinformation.Her vision is for empowered Kenyan youth to drive the country’s digital future.

By Raylenne Kambua Across Africa, women journalists are increasingly subjected to online and offline gender-based violence (O/GBV) and related violations in the course of their work. Patterns of abuse range from sexist insults and disinformation campaigns to arbitrary arrests and threats of sexual and physical harm. Such attacks form part of a broader effort to silence women in the media, particularly those reporting on politics, governance, and conflict. Recent cases illustrate the growing scale of this threat. In Central Africa, particularly in countries such as Cameroon, journalists such as Mimi Mefo have faced waves of online harassment following political commentary, with attacks often targeting their gender and credibility rather than the substance of their reporting. In Congo-Brazzaville, journalist Rosie Pioth was forced into hiding after receiving death threats linked to her investigative work. These incidents reflect a broader regional pattern in which women journalists are targeted not only for what they report, but also because they are women operating in public spaces. Data generated through an observatory established by the International Association of Women in Radio and Television (IAWRT) underscores the scale of the problem. According to the observatory’s findings, 73% of women journalists in Africa have experienced online harassment, 25% have faced physical threats, and 18% have endured sexual violence. These figures highlight the severity of O/GBV and its effects on journalistic practice. Particularly concerning is the growing link between online abuse and real-world harm. A global survey conducted by UNESCO found that as many as 42% of women journalists had experienced offline attacks linked to online violence, underscoring the dangerous continuum between digital and physical spaces. The nature of these attacks is often deeply gendered. Women journalists are subjected to sexist insults, sexualised threats, and coordinated trolling campaigns designed to discredit and silence them. Research by Media Defence indicates that political actors are among the principal drivers or amplifiers of online attacks, especially during election periods. In many cases, such harassment is strategic, aimed at discouraging women from participating in public discourse and weakening independent journalism. In response to this growing crisis, IAWRT has emerged as a key institutional actor. Through its partnership with UNESCO’s International Programme for the Development of Communication (IPDC), the organisation has developed an Africa-wide observatory to monitor and document violations against women journalists. The platform serves as a centralised hub for reporting incidents in real time, mapping their geographic spread, and categorising different forms of abuse, from online harassment to physical violence. Importantly, this initiative extends beyond documentation. The observatory is intended to strengthen accountability by linking reported cases to legal and institutional responses, including collaboration with law enforcement agencies and legal experts. In this way, cases are not merely recorded but may also be pursued through formal legal channels, thereby contributing to efforts to address the persistent problem of impunity. Impunity persists because legal and institutional responses to violence against women journalists are often weak, inconsistent, or absent altogether. Although regional and national frameworks such as the Maputo Protocol, African Union human rights standards, and constitutional protections for freedom of expression provide a basis for redress, enforcement remains uneven in practice. Many cases of online and offline abuse go unreported or are not properly investigated, while perpetrators are rarely identified or sanctioned. This accountability gap not only emboldens further attacks but also deepens self-censorship among women journalists, particularly those covering politics, corruption, and other high-risk issues. Advocacy efforts are also critical to addressing O/GBV. Campaigns such as the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence play an important role in raising awareness of the risks faced by women journalists and in amplifying calls for protection. Such initiatives highlight the link between gender-based violence and freedom of expression, recognising journalists as both reporters on violence and victims of it. At the national level, collaborative initiatives are emerging to address these challenges. The Kenya Media Sector Working Group, of which IAWRT is a member, has been actively advocating for an end to violence against journalists, including women journalists. These efforts emphasise the need for gender-sensitive policies, stronger legal protections, and improved safety mechanisms within the media sector. Despite these initiatives, significant challenges persist. The rapid expansion of digital platforms has created new avenues for abuse, while regulatory frameworks continue to struggle to keep pace. Digital platforms may also enable abuse through weak content moderation, ineffective reporting mechanisms, algorithmic amplification of harmful content, and delayed responses to targeted harassment. The experiences of journalists such as Cameroonian Mimi Mefo and Kenya’s Yvonne Okwara demonstrate how online platforms can become sites of coordinated gendered abuse, particularly after politically sensitive reporting or interviews. At the same time, cultural and societal norms often discourage women from reporting harassment, resulting in significant underreporting. As IAWRT notes, many women journalists remain silent because of fear, limited legal support, or social stigma. Addressing O/GBV against women journalists in Africa therefore requires a comprehensive approach. This includes strengthening legal frameworks, improving platform accountability, enhancing digital safety training, and building solidarity networks among journalists. It also requires recognising online violence as a serious threat not only to individual safety but also to media freedom and democratic participation, insofar as it limits the diversity of voices in public discourse and constrains investigative reporting, source protection, and editorial independence. IAWRT continues to document and respond to violations against women journalists through its observatory, ensuring that incidents of harassment are systematically recorded. Beyond mapping these cases, it is strengthening legal follow-up by working with partners to pursue accountability and justice for affected journalists. More broadly, the persistence of threats, harassment, intimidation, and other forms of gender-based violence against women journalists underscores that such abuse is sustained not only by individual perpetrators, but also by institutional weakness and digital environments that fail to provide adequate protection or remedy. With support from UNESCO-IPDC, these efforts are helping to bridge the gap between documenting abuse and securing meaningful redress. Raylenne is a communications and programs professional with over 7 years’ experience working at the intersection of media, gender, technology

By Lenser Loise If you had asked me during our first podcast production coaching session with Irene Mbaya from DW Akademie what my vision for the project was, I probably would not have said that we would go on to produce and publish a complete six-part podcast season. But that is exactly what we did. So how did we get here? The idea for the Connected Voices Podcast grew out of research led by the International Association of Women in Radio and Television (IAWRT) and the Association for Progressive Communications (APC) on community networks. As a team, we realized the findings needed to go beyond a research report. We needed a way to share them with the communities from which the information had been gathered and create a space they could use to explore the issues raised in their own voices. Photo: Irene Mbaya and Lenser Loise at the Tanda Community Network during the first podcast coaching session. The research findings made it clear that communities such as Kibera experience gaps in connectivity, affordability, and digital access, shaping how they access information and participate in the digital world. We wanted to explore not only how communities are connecting, but also what happens when they have the tools and spaces to create and share content that reflects their own realities. A podcast felt, and our first day of coaching became a turning point. We went through the fundamentals of podcast production and, more importantly, began connecting the dots as a team. Each partner brought a different part of the puzzle. IAWRT was closely involved in the production itself, from sound, editing and hosting to the logistics that kept the team moving. Tanda Community Network brought the community perspective. Working directly within Kibera, the team understood the context and helped shape the content, refine the scripts, advise on guests, ensure different voices were captured and provide the space where the podcast was recorded and produced. DW Akademie brought the technical media expertise, coaching and mentorship that helped us strengthen our production skills and provided quality assurance along the way. Photo: IAWRT and Tanda Community Network teams during the first meet-up. We tried to create a work plan, a timetable and a structure for the production process. But as the work progressed, one thing became increasingly clear: no plan would work unless we were willing to be flexible and support one another. Podcast production was not a straight line we had bumps, changes and unexpected challenges along the way. When the Equipment Arrived The equipment arrived around Christmas, which meant our festive season suddenly included checking deliveries, unpacking items and making sure we had everything we needed. At the time, we had envisioned recording the podcast in a natural community setting. The idea was to capture the environment and authenticity of the communities we were documenting. Our first attempt, however, did not go as planned. Kibera has its own soundtrack: people, movement, businesses, traffic and everything else that makes a neighbourhood alive. While that atmosphere was important to the story we wanted to tell, it was not ideal for producing clean, professional audio. Still, the team knew Kibera had to remain our recording site. We did not want to move the podcast away from the community simply because the environment presented a technical challenge. We upgraded the mixer, improved the microphones and began thinking creatively about the tools already available to us. One of them was Colmena, software designed to support recording in challenging conditions. Colmena is an offline-first, mobile-friendly, open-source media toolbox designed for local and community content production. For us, its value became particularly clear in a setting where access to professional recording equipment and reliable internet could be limited. It helped reduce the busy background noise and echo, which made editing our dry run much smoother. At that point, we realised we did not need to change the environment. Eventually, we created a makeshift studio inside the premises of one of our partners, Tanda, right in the heart of Kibera. And suddenly, everything clicked. It was not a fancy studio, and it did not need to be. Bringing More Voices into the Conversation Not every guest could make it to Kibera. On some days, we brought guests into the studio, set up microphones and recorded the conversations face-to-face. On other days, distance made that impossible, so we used Zoom to bring guests into the conversation and recorded the calls directly through the mixer. Through the six episodes, we explored different parts of this ecosystem. We started by unpacking what community networks are and why they matter for digital inclusion in Kenya, before looking at local content and the tools communities can use to create and share it. We explored technologies such as Colmena, the role of community radio and partnerships in strengthening local content, and finally the policy and regulatory environment shaping community networks in Kenya. We also engaged stakeholders working in communication and connectivity, as well as people behind community radio stations and other platforms through which communities share their own stories. Beyond the Usual Voices We wanted the podcast to go beyond the obvious voices. The goal was to bring different perspectives into the same conversation and create space for people who are often discussed in policy and research spaces to speak for themselves. One reflection from our fourth episode captured why these conversations matter. Henix Obuchunju, News Editor at Pamoja Radio, observed, “Traditional media is shrinking, it is really shrinking.” His observation brought us back to one of the questions running through the series: as the media landscape changes, how can community networks and community radio continue creating spaces for people to produce, access and share information? Photo: A snapshot of the six-part podcast series as displayed on one of the distribution platform.  By April 2026, Episode Six of Connected Voices had aired, marking the completion of the season we had set out to produce. What started with research and a podcast coaching session became six conversations

Photo: Kenya Correspondents Association’s William Oloo Janak sets the stage for discussions on collaborative strategies among media support organisations on election preparedness and safety at a recent meeting in Nairobi. By Nelly M. Nyangorora NAIROBI — Concerns about journalist safety and press freedom are intensifying in Kenya as political tensions rise ahead of the election. At a roundtable convened by the Supporting African Future Investigative and Responsible Journalism (SAFIRI) consortium, media support groups in Kenya discussed collaborative strategies to strengthen journalist protection and support a safer environment for election coverage. The SAFIRI Consortium, which promotes ethical and responsible journalism, brought together the International Association of Women in Radio and Television (IAWRT), the Media Council of Kenya (MCK), the Kenya Correspondents Association, AMWIK, Journalists for Human Rights, Africa Uncensored, and other groups to explore ways to help ensure election coverage takes place in a safe and free environment. Safety, information integrity, legal support and literacy, early warning, election reporting skills, and psychosocial support were the forum’s main focus areas. Partners from Free Press Unlimited and Aspen, a global nonprofit focused on democracy, leadership, technology, and social change, also attended.  There were calls to link accreditation with insurance cover and to ensure media houses take greater responsibility for journalists accredited and deployed to cover high-risk assignments. MCK said journalists accredited by media houses to cover the election must have insurance. “The policy requiring a protection plan for all journalists deployed to high-risk areas is in place. Journalists assigned to such areas should ensure it is implemented,” said Rebecca Mutiso, MCK’s acting manager for press freedom and advocacy. The organisations discussed their individual strengths and how these could be leveraged to build protection and resilience mechanisms that enhance journalists’ safety. IAWRT Kenya’s violations-mapping tool addresses the critical issue of safety by helping document violations, map risks, anticipate attacks, and serve as an early warning system. IAWRT is working with women journalists, law enforcement officers from Kenya, Uganda, Nigeria, Zambia, Cameroon, and other countries, as well as the Pan African Lawyers Union (PALU), to turn documentation of violations into coordinated early warning, rapid response, and long-term protection. As the election cycle beckons, reports indicate rising threats to journalists. Amnesty International’s May report points to a growing pattern of harassment, obstruction, and physical attacks against journalists covering political and public events between February and May 2026. The violence during the July 2026 election in Ol Kalou further suggests that the environment remains volatile. Journalists were among those targeted during the electoral process, with at least 10 reportedly attacked by armed groups. In 2023, demonstrations in Kisumu saw more than 25 journalists assaulted or robbed of equipment, an early warning indicator for the 2027 election. Kenya Correspondents Association’s Oloo Janak said all indications suggest the election will be volatile.  “We can clearly see from reports how challenging the reporting environment is. The rhetoric from politicians is dominated by slogans rather than issue-based conversations. Journalists who have never covered an election are likely to be deployed to report on these polls amid emerging challenges. We need strategies in our different spaces to address information integrity and the safety of journalists,” he said. The election date is already contested and mired in confusion following a 7 August 2026 court ruling in Malindi. The ruling raised a constitutional question over whether the election cycle should have been concluded by 11 August 2026, even as the IEBC has formally confirmed 10th August 2027 and included it in its election operations plan. Justice Mugure Thande, however, suspended the declaration’s effect until after the polls to allow time for appeals and avoid disruption. This context already presents an information integrity challenge and creates uncertainty, particularly around the outcome of the appeal and the response of political parties, candidates, and voters. These scenarios create a difficult reporting environment for journalists covering the election. The atmosphere is already politically charged, increasing the risk of misinterpretation, speculation, and disinformation spreading quickly. By all indications, the 2027 polls are likely to test the media’s resilience, making coordinated prevention and response measures across the sector an urgent priority. These circumstances show why election preparations must begin well before polling day. Monitoring violations in real time The platform, accessible at report.iawrt.or.ke, is a real-time monitoring and reporting tool developed in partnership with UNESCO’s International Programme for the Development of Communication (IPDC). It was built by the Kenya ICT Action Network (KICTANet) using Ushahidi’s crowdsourcing technology.  Launched in August 2025 as the second phase of a multi-year initiative, the platform allows journalists and witnesses to log incidents, tag locations, categorise threats from harassment and censorship to physical and sexual violence, and attach supporting evidence. IAWRT’s monitoring tool is framed around seven strategic pillars for a safe reporting environment: institutionalising safety mechanisms, investing in digital resilience, building rapid response networks, strengthening inter-agency coordination, countering gendered disinformation, reforming legal frameworks, and changing norms through solidarity. IAWRT has been training women journalists across all 47 counties in digital safety and AI verification. By March 2026, about 50 women journalists had received the training through a partnership with the Google News Initiative. PALU’s Kenyan representative, Lawyer William Oketch, says the observatory tool is essential as it provides documentation for legal action, calling for greater awareness of its existence and urging journalists whose rights have been violated to allow litigation. “Female journalists are reluctant to pursue litigation due to subtle coercion, intimidation, and discouragement from their own employers, a gross act of impunity by employers”, he said in a statement. As Kenya moves toward another high-stakes election, the mapping platform offers more than a record of violations: it gives media support organisations a shared evidence base to spot emerging threats, coordinate rapid responses, and strengthen protections for women journalists before risks escalate on the campaign trail and at the polls. Nelly Moraa Nyangorora is an independent editor, journalist, and Ethics and Responsible AI (ERAI) Fellow with more than 28 years of experience in journalism, communications, and public policy. She is a former Chief

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.

By Caroline Gachacha Reporting Violations Matters Recent incidents in Kenya and Sudan demonstrate the continuing risks faced by women journalists and the importance of documenting violations against media workers. The cases range from harassment, intimidation, arbitrary detention, restricted media access, and interference with journalists while covering public events in Kenya, Uganda, and Tanzania to the detention and disappearance of women journalists in Sudan, Ethiopia, Congo, Burundi, and across Africa. For organizations working to protect journalists, documenting each incident is important not only to establish what happened, but also to identify patterns, pursue accountability, and ensure that cases do not disappear without follow-up. Concerns over the Safety of Women Journalists The safety of women journalists is a rising concern that directly infringes on press freedom. In Uganda, women journalists find themselves in quite a restrictive environment, facing threats that escalate significantly during election cycles and around political events. The high-profile incident involving Susan Nsibirwa, managing director of Nation Media Group Uganda, where she has continually faced intimidation, points to the gendered hazards women executives in media face while steering their organisations through political crises/events. Uganda’s Chief of Defence Forces (CDF), General Muhoozi Kainerugaba, ordered the NTV Uganda shut down. The military surrounded the station, forcing NTV Uganda, Spark TV, the Daily Monitor, and KFM radio off the air. General Muhoozi targeted Nsibirwa on X, referring to her as a “small girl” who needed to be disciplined, calling for her arrest on sight. NTV Journalist Margaret Kimathi was recently accosted by police while covering Saba Saba protests. She was physically harassed and forced to delete footage while filming barricades at Allsops in Nairobi, and her equipment was confiscated briefly. From her Facebook post, she narrated her ordeal under the officers who described her as a novice. Another case was that of sports journalist and Sports Eye Media founder Ruckiel Odikor, popularly known as Rix. According to NTV Kenya, Odikor was forcibly removed from Nyayo National Stadium on 15 February 2026 while covering the HSBC SVNS 2 rugby tournament. CCTV footage showed security personnel escorting her from the stadium. NTV reported that Odikor had covered the same section of the stadium the previous day without incident. The Sports Journalists Association of Kenya (SJAK) condemned what it described as the physical handling and intimidation of a member. SJAK said it had engaged Odikor, the event organisers, the Kenya Rugby Union (KRU) and relevant security agencies to establish the facts and safeguard the journalist. KRU subsequently said the confrontation occurred after Odikor allegedly entered a restricted area near the track and medical zone without the required accreditation clearance. At the same time, the union said it did not condone excessive force and said it was investigating the incident and reviewing stadium security procedures. The Kenya Editors’ Guild (KEG) also condemned the incident and called for an investigation, public disclosure of the findings, appropriate disciplinary action against those responsible and clearer safeguards for journalists covering sporting events. Sudan: Detention and Disappearance of Women Journalists The situation in Sudan is considerably difficult. According to the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ), the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) detained Nyala State Radio journalists Mawaheb Ibrahim, Zahraa Muhammad Al-,Hassan and presenter Ishraqah Abdulrahman in Nyala, South Darfur, on 28 February 2026. CPJ reported that the three women were transferred to Korea prison and were being held without formal charges or being brought before a court. The Sudanese Journalists Syndicate (SJS) separately raised concerns about the arbitrary detention and enforced disappearance of journalists in Sudan. In March, the syndicate said it had documented cases involving journalists in Khartoum, Darfur, and Sennar, including the detention of women journalists in Nyala and their transfer to Korea prison. Latest update on the three Nyala journalists There has since been a significant development. On 30 July 2026, CPJ renewed its call for the immediate release of Ishraqah Abdulrahman, Zahraa Muhammad Al-Hassan,-Hassan and Mawaheb Ibrahim, saying their health had reportedly deteriorated during their detention. CPJ said a member of the Sudanese Journalists Syndicate, speaking anonymously because of fear of reprisals, told the organisation that families had received information from women recently released from detention. According to that account, the three journalists had lost significant amounts of weight and were suffering from fever and other untreated health complications because of a lack of medical care. CPJ said it contacted the RSF through its website but did not receive a response. No public response from the RSF addressing the specific allegations about the journalists’ health or confirming their release was identified in the sources reviewed as of 12 August 2026. There was also a broader development concerning Korea Prison in Nyala. Darfur24 reported on 9 June that more than 27 female detainees had been released following a review of detention cases involving representatives of the judiciary, prosecution, police, RSF intelligence, and the RSF legal advisory office. However, the report specifically said that the whereabouts of five female journalists and activists arrested in connection with a women’s workshop remained unknown, including Ishraqah Abdulrahman, Zahraa Muhammad Al-Hassan and Mawaheb Ibrahim. This means the article should not state simply that all women detained at Korea Prison were released. The evidence indicates that some detainees were released, while the three journalists remained a matter of concern. In Tanzania, the Committee to Protect Journalists and other human rights reports indicate similar threats. In January 2025, prominent Tanzanian journalist Maria Sarungi Tsehai was abducted in Kenya in a cross-border surveillance operation. CPJ’s Africa Program Coordinator Muthoki Mumo described the incident, expressing fear that Kenya, previously regarded as a safe haven, was becoming hostile to those with dissenting opinions. “ Authorities in Kenya must ensure those responsible for Maria Sarungi’s abduction are held accountable,” she said. Sarungi publishes commentary on Tanzania politics on her social media platforms. She fled Tanzania in 2023 following threats of arrest and the banning of her media outlet. Tanzania October 2025 election, according to the Collaboration on International ICT Policy for East and Southern Africa CIPESA May 2026 report, witnessed