David Kode and Mouna Ben Garga,  Pambazuka News May 11, 2017. Restrictions on civic freedoms are increasing worldwide, but are being acutely felt in African countries. According to the CIVICUS Monitor – a constantly updated tool rating countries’ fundamental civic freedoms from open to closed – 43 African countries fall under the bottom three categories of closed, repressed and obstructed with only two African countries rated as open. In most African countries, freedom of expression, assembly and association are stifled by state and non-state actors through the use of restrictive legislation, policies, and judicial persecution as well as physical attacks, threats and detention of activists and journalists.  See full story.

Photo: Protesters in Ethiopia’s capital Addis Ababa (Finfinnee) demand that TPLF stop Killing Oromo students, and stop evicting Oromo farmers and grabbing their land. Credit: ©©Caamsaa/May 24, 2014 · Finfinne Tribune | Gadaa.com