West Africa's MFWA Report Demands End To Arbitrary Arrests, Prolonged Detention Of Journalists In Mali, Burkina Faso, Others

The new MFWA report examined the "state, determinants, dynamics and future of media and free expression rights in Burkina Faso, Mali, Niger and Guinea."

The Media Foundation for West Africa (MFWA) has called on transitional and constitutional governments in Burkina Faso, Mali, Niger and Guinea to end arbitrary arrests and prolonged pretrial detention of journalists and civil society actors.

The MFWA made the demand in its report launched at the regional conference on press freedom and democratic governance in West Africa held in Abuja on Tuesday, adding that this was part of urgent measures to reverse the deteriorating state of media freedom and freedom of expression across the four countries.

The new MFWA report examined the "state, determinants, dynamics and future of media and free expression rights in Burkina Faso, Mali, Niger and Guinea."

Speaking at the conference, MFWA Executive Director, Sulemana Braimah, warned that journalists, media professionals, activists and other civic actors have increasingly become targets of restrictions, intimidation, surveillance, arrests and other forms of repression.