A new report by the Media Foundation for West Africa (MFWA) has exposed a disturbing pattern of repression in military-run Sahel states, calling for the scrapping of cybercrime laws used to criminalise free expression and silence dissent.
The foundation presented its findings on Tuesday at a regional conference on press freedom and democratic governance in Abuja, specifically targeting the transitional governments of Burkina Faso, Mali, Niger, and Guinea .
The report, which examined the “state, determinants, dynamics and future of media and free expression rights” in these four countries, warned that the deteriorating environment for journalists is not an isolated problem but an emerging regional pattern driven by military governance and security emergencies .
The MFWA’s analysis has zeroed in on the manipulation of legal frameworks. The foundation has demanded the repeal or fundamental revision of cybercrime provisions that enable the criminalisation of expression. It specifically criticised laws that define offenses in vague terms—such as “distributing public order” or “infringing human dignity”—which are then arbitrarily applied to punish journalists, even for truthful reporting .
This call aligns with broader regional concerns. In Nigeria, for instance, activists and rights groups have frequently accused authorities of abusing the Cybercrimes Act to harass journalists despite amendments . The MFWA noted that the situation in the Sahel highlights how such legislation is weaponised to stifle dissent, with governments using digital surveillance and arrests to control the narrative .
Speaking at the conference, MFWA Executive Director Sulemana Braimah warned that journalists, activists, and civic actors are increasingly becoming targets of restrictions, intimidation, and repression. He called for collective action to tackle the menace .
The report explicitly named the cases of Habib Marouane Camara, Foniké Mengué, and Mamadou Billo Bah in Guinea, alongside other documented cases of enforced disappearance across the four countries . The foundation urged authorities to conduct credible and independent investigations into these attacks and to clarify the whereabouts of all persons detained for exercising their expression rights.
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The report traced the worsening media environment to the political upheaval that has swept the region. It noted that while West Africa embraced democratisation in the late 1990s, the past decade has seen a “coup contagion,” with Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger forming the Alliance of Sahel States under military rule .
“Journalists, social commentators, and civil society activists experience various forms of victimisation and rights violations,” the report stated, listing censorship, arbitrary restrictions on independent media, and legislative measures aimed at controlling the internet .
The MFWA warned that the use of digital surveillance and the blocking of social media platforms create a “chilling effect” on public debate at a time when democratic participation is most needed .
