AU urges African governments to end impunity for crimes against journalists

NAIROBI, Kenya, Nov 2 – The African Union has called on African governments to strengthen mechanisms for protecting journalists and ensure attacks against media workers are investigated and prosecuted, warning that persistent impunity is undermining press freedom and democratic accountability.

In a joint statement marking the International Day to End Impunity for Crimes against Journalists on Monday, AU Commissioner for Political Affairs, Peace and Security Bankole Adeoye and Federation of African Journalists (FAJ) President Omar Faruk Osman said journalists across Africa continue to face killings, physical attacks, arbitrary arrests, enforced disappearances, intimidation and digital abuse.

The two officials urged AU Member States to take concrete measures to prevent attacks, hold perpetrators accountable, and provide effective remedies to victims.

This year’s global theme, “Threats evolve. Impunity endures,” highlights the changing dangers facing journalists, particularly the use of new technologies and evolving weapons against media workers covering conflicts.

The statement also raised concern over the heightened risks facing female journalists, who are particularly exposed to gender-based threats, harassment and online violence.

Journalists covering elections, protests, armed conflicts, corruption and human rights violations were identified as particularly vulnerable to intimidation and attacks.

“When these crimes go unpunished, the perpetrators are emboldened, public-interest reporting is silenced, and communities are denied information they need to participate in public life and exercise their democratic rights,” the officials said.

They called on governments to establish or strengthen national mechanisms for the safety of journalists and ensure law enforcement agencies understand and respect the role of the media.

The statement further urged authorities to protect journalists covering protests, elections, emergencies and armed conflicts, while ensuring that laws are not used to intimidate media workers, obstruct legitimate reporting or restrict freedom of expression.

Governments were also urged to address digital threats, including surveillance, online harassment and technology-facilitated gender-based violence, while safeguarding human rights and freedom of expression.

The AU Commission and FAJ called for closer cooperation between governments, regional institutions, media organisations, journalists’ unions and civil society to strengthen prevention, protection and accountability.

They also stressed the need to involve journalists and their representative organisations in developing and monitoring safety measures.

The officials reaffirmed that independent media play an essential role in peace, democracy, accountability and the people-centred development envisioned under the African Union’s Agenda 2063.

They cited the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights, which protects freedom of expression and access to information, and called on Member States to fulfil their obligations under African and international human rights law.

“Every journalist must be able to report without fear of violence or reprisal,” the statement said.

The International Day to End Impunity for Crimes against Journalists is observed annually on November 2, drawing attention to the need to investigate attacks on media workers and bring those responsible to justice.

​Bruhan Makong is a Senior News Reporter for Capital FM in Nairobi, covering diplomacy, foreign policy, national security, climate, and human rights across East Africa and the wider region.