As the world marks the International World Press Freedom Day 2024 (IWFD)The African Editors Forum(TAEF) reaffirms its unwavering commitment to nurturing a media landscape across Africa that is free, independent, and diverse.

The first quarter of the year 2024 has been marred with a troubling series of media freedom violations across Kenya, Ethiopia, and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). From physical assaults to cyberbullying and unlawful detentions, these incidents highlight the ongoing threats faced by journalists in their pursuit of truth and transparency in East Africa.

On Monday, 11th February 2024, Nairobi, Kenya hosted a landmark event as CMG Africa and the Africa Policy Institute joined forces to host a seminar under the theme 'Enhancing China-Africa Cooperation in New Quality Productive Forces to Realise High-Quality Growth'. This gathering of minds brought together a diverse panel of experts to dissect recent developments in China and their potential implications for Africa and the global landscape in 2024.

As the world celebrates International Women's Day on 8th March 2024, it is crucial to recognize and celebrate the importance of the freedom of the press and the significant milestones of women journalists to preserve and advance media freedoms. In many parts of the globe, women are at the forefront of advocating for freedom of expression, access to information, and the protection of journalists.

The Africa Editors Forum (TAEF) convened its Biannual General Meeting (BGM) in Nairobi, Kenya, on February 20th, 2024, marking a significant milestone for journalism across the continent.

On 2nd November 2023, we marked the International Day to End Impunity and Crimes against Journalists. It came at a time when Journalists all over the world were being targeted, killed and arrested. Between 2006 and 2023, over 1,600 journalists have been killed around the world

Africa has slowly been opening up and becoming a business hub. The biggest beneficiaries have been Africans with 80% of migration being from one African country to the other. This migration brought about the idea of letting the countries trade amongst themselves recognising how rich the African continent is.

Christopher Allen, a dual American-British citizen and freelance journalist, was shot multiple times on August 26, 2017, while documenting a battle in Kaya, near South Sudan's border with Uganda, after being embedded with rebel troops for three weeks.

In the Eastern Africa Region, the public broadcasters are not subject to political interference or commercial influence. Public broadcasters receive funding from diverse sources including licence fees, individual contributions, public financing and commercial financing(advertising), advertising and sponsorships

In the past 3 months, the Democratic Republic of Congo has kept appearing on our radar with reports of attacks on journalists. In August 2023, there were reports of at least seven journalists being harassed or attacked by political actors of all sides in the capital, Kinshasa, and the central city of Kananga.

On Monday 18th Oct, while covering a police raid at a possible chang’aa den in Katine village, in Machakos, two journalists were seriously hurt and one was left unconscious.

In June, our focus and attention was drawn to the Sudanese press. Ever since the war broke out in April 2023, the situation in Sudan continues to deteriorate and as it becomes a humanitarian crisis, journalists have been caught in the rift between the military and the opposing forces, they have been intimidated, fired, harassed and threatened to leave some languish in jail while others have fled into Chad, South Sudan, Middle East and some sought asylum across the continent.

Eastern Africa Editors Society is concerned about the rise of Media freedom violations in Somalia. This has been noted from media monitoring our organisation conducts and we would like to bring the concerns to your attention.

At least 11 journalists have been arrested in Ethiopia since April according to Reporters without boarders (RSF). There has been tension between the federal army and the Amhara nationalist militias for years.