What do you think?

Freedom of press and the right to information is still non-existent in many African countries. Last Wednesday Rwanda's Media High Council suspended two newspapers from going to print. The two privately-owned weeklies Umuseso and Umivugizi were said to lack professionalism and confused information and opinion.

The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ), an independent organisation that defends press freedom, based in New York, criticised the suspension. According to CPJ, the measure is designed to silence local language publications known for their critical reporting against the ruling party on the eve of the presidential elections.

African journalists face a vast array of violations of their right to press freedom and freedom of expression. These include intimidation, harassment, threats, attacks, beatings, illegal detentions, arrests and imprisonment.

What needs to be done to establish press freedom in Africa?

Is public awareness about the right of information limited in Africa?

Or is public information simply badly documented and thus hard to get out into the open?

How free is the press in your own country?

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