Skip to main content

2013 World Press Freedom Index: Rwanda falls 5 places


2013 World Press Freedom Index: Rwanda falls 5 places

 
Jan 31st, 2013 | By  | Category: Top news
In its World Press Freedom Index that was released this Wednesday, January 30th 2013, Reporters without Borders (RSF) classified Rwanda, governed by Paul Kagame, among the group of 'Africa's predatory censors'. The country has sunk 5 places compared to the years 2011-2012 and is now on the 161st place out of 179.
The association also lists Paul Kagame next to other African heads of state such as those of Eritrea, Djibouti and Swaziland, describing them as 'members of an exclusive club of authoritarian African leaders, some eccentric others stern, who hold their countries in an iron grasp and keep a firm grip on news and information.'
According to RSF, in countries governed by these leaders, 'media pluralism has been whittled away and criticism of the head of state discouraged.'
Burundi fell slightly, ranking 132nd compared to 130th on the last index. RSF states that 'summonses of journalists declined but the case of Hassan Ruvakuki, given a life sentence reduced to three years on appeal, has created an atmosphere of fear among the media.'
In the Great Lakes Region, the Democratic Republic of Congo is the only country to have progressed on the Index. It is now on the 142nd place, 3 places above last year.
Finland, The Netherland and Norway still dominate the top-three of the Index. Turkmenistan, North Korea and Eritrea are at the bottom of the list as 'dictatorial countries' with the least press freedom.
Ruhumuza Mbonyumutwa
Translated from French by Jane Nishimwe

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

[RwandaLibre] Rwanda : 19 ans après les massacres de Kibeho restent toujours impunis

  http://www.fdu-rwanda.com/ Rwanda : 19 ans après les massacres de Kibeho restent toujours impunis avril 22, 2014     Ce 22 avril 2014 est un triste anniversaire. Souvenons-nous, en effet, c'est à cette date que plus de 8'000 réfugiés dans le camp de Kibeho furent tués à l'arme lourde et aux lance-roquettes des soldats du Front Patriotique Rwandais. Des dizaines de milliers de rescapés du camp qui ont tenté ensuite de s'échapper ont été froidement abattus sur leur chemin de retour, les uns, jetés dans des fosses communes, d'autres, jonchés tout le long des routes, d'autres enfin, tout simplement disparus, sans la moindre trace.   Le camp de réfugiés de Kibeho abritait près de 200000 personnes. Que l'on se rappelle, c'est peu avant le 17 avril 1995 que, sous le prétexte fallacieux de démantèlement de prétendus arsenaux d'armes, six bataillons de l'armée du FPR (2000 hommes) et de la...

[AfricaRealities.com] Rwanda court hears case to block third presidential term

  Wednesday's supreme court case was quickly adjourned after the lawyer for the Democratic Green Party failed to appear. One party official told Reuters lawyers had been fearful about taking on the case.  The court panel of nine judges led by Chief Justice Sam Rugege adjourned and set the next hearing for July 29. http://mobile.reuters.com/article/idUSKCN0PI11X20150708?irpc=932 Email Facebook Twitter By Clement Uwiringiyimana KIGALI (Reuters) - Rwanda's main opposition party opened a case in the Supreme Court on Wednesday seeking to prevent constitutional change that would allow President Paul Kagame to run for a third term seven-year in office. The debate about term limits and challenges to veteran leaders has flared in several places in Africa. The United States and other Western nations have been pressing African leaders to stick to constitutional rules on presidential terms. Wednesday's supreme court case was quickly adjourned...

[AfricaWatch] Rwanda 2014: 24 years after the Ugandan invasion

  http://sfbayview.com/2014/rwanda-2014-24-years-after-the-ugandan-invasion/#.U1cA6yfqdSQ.facebook Rwanda 2014: 24 years after the Ugandan invasion April 17, 2014 4 by  Ann Garrison KPFA Evening News, broadcast April 13, 2014 Claude Gatebuke survived the mass killing in Rwanda and founded the African Great Lakes Action Network (AGLAN) to promote truth and reconciliation in Rwanda and the rest of the Great Lakes Region of Africa. Twenty-four years after the Ugandan invasion of Rwanda in October 1990, both the history of the four-year war that followed and realities of life on the ground in Rwanda today are fiercely disputed. Claude Gatebuke survived the violence and founded the African Great Lakes Action Network (AGLAN) to promote truth and reconciliation in Rwanda and the rest of the Great Lakes Region of Africa. Transcript KPFA Evening News Anchor Anthony Fest : The United Nations commemorated the mass killing that came to be known ...

-“The enemies of Freedom do not argue ; they shout and they shoot.”

-“The hate of men will pass, and dictators die, and the power they took from the people will return to the people. And so long as men die, liberty will never perish.”

-“The price good men pay for indifference to public affairs is to be ruled by evil men.”

-“I have loved justice and hated iniquity: therefore I die in exile.”

IRIN - Great Lakes

UN News Centre - Africa