Today, the Collaboration on International ICT Policy in East and Southern Africa (CIPESA) launches The State of Internet Freedoms in East Africa research report which is an Investigation into the policies and practices defining internet freedom in East Africa.
Thought leaders in the East African ICT industry have gathered in Kampala, Uganda for the launch of this pivotal report.
The report presents…
Reports of Content Screening &Take Down in Rwanda
Reports of Content Screening and Take Down Requests in Rwanda
According the 2011 Rwanda Freedom on the Net Report, online news websites, Umusingi and Umurabyo, have been contacted by authorities to delete content related to local political affairs and ethnic relations. Besides, there are media reports that the Media High Council has an online monitoring department tasked…
By CPJ
In June 2011, Jean Bosco Gasasira, the exiled editor of Umuvugizi, was sentenced to two and half years in jail for civil disobedience and insulting President Paul Kagame in the online version of his newspaper. In April of the previous year, the print publication of the same newspaper had been suspended for six months for allegedly inciting violence and criticizing the head of…
Rwanda: Media Council Issues Journalists Stern Warning
Rwanda Media commission (RMC) has warned journalists to stick to professionalism and ethical standards. The warning was sounded by RMC chairman Fred Muvunyi, during a press conference where he discusses the plight of two journalists who are currently under police custody.
Cassien Ntamuhanga a journalist at Amazing Grace Radio was arrested over allegations of working…
press release
Reporters Without Borders is worried by the deteriorating environment for the media in Rwanda in recent weeks.
In the past few weeks, a journalist has been arrested, at least two others have fled abroad, and a news website has been hacked. While apparently not linked, these events have helped to fuel a climate of fear and self-censorship among media personnel.
Cassien…
Ntwali John Williams the editor of Ireme vernacular website has dismissed media reports that claim he has fled the country yet he is in Kigali. But told IGIHE he was extremely worried about his safety following a series of reports about his whereabouts.
The latest Post on his Facebook page reads; “I am extremely worried of information since last week that…
The East African, Phone Evidence Used in Terror, Treason Case
The reality of a new law in Rwanda permitting tapping of telephone conversations has hit home in the ongoing terror and treason case involving famous Rwandan singer Kizito Mihigo and journalist Cassien Ntamuhanga.
The law was passed in August 2012 with little opposition both in parliament and from the civil society.
On Thursday…
In June 2011, Jean Bosco Gasasira, the exiled editor of Umuvugizinewspaper, was sentenced to two and half years in jail for civil disobedience and insulting President Paul Kagameon the online version of his newspaper. In April of the previous year, the print publication of the same newspaper had been suspended for six months for allegedly inciting violence and criticising the…
According to Freedom House, there were reports that online news websites, Umusingi and Umurabyo, were contacted by authorities during 2012 and early 2013 to delete content related to local political affairs and ethnic relations. Umusingi and Inyereri – another online news site – were reportedly blocked on some ISPs. The former was first blocked in 2011 but as of mid…
Internet users in Rwanda are reported to have become more vocal in criticising the government, particularly on social media, probably because of the perceived anonymity of the web. According to Freedom House, in 2012, Rwandans used Twitter to protest a decision by the Kigali City Council to close down a local entertainment venue. In the same year, in response to…