A recently released research report by the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) revealed that at least 67 journalists are currently incarcerated across Africa in connection with their work. The study also sheds light on the diminishing media space in Israel.

The global research, unveiled on Thursday, highlights the pervasive authoritarianism, with governments consistently attempting to suppress critical reporting and impede public accountability.

Jodie Ginsberg, the CEO of the organisation, emphasised, “Our research shows how entrenched authoritarianism is globally, with governments emboldened to stamp out critical reporting and prevent public accountability.”

Israel, for the first time, emerges as a leading jailer of journalists, with 17 recorded in detention as of December 1, 2023. This surge in numbers, particularly Palestinian journalists, according to the release, marks the highest since CPJ began documenting arrests in 1992, propelling Israel to the sixth position in the global census.

The spike coincides with the Israel-Gaza conflict, during which more than 80 journalists have lost their lives.

As of December 1, 2023, 320 journalists were imprisoned across the world—a figure second only to the record set in 2022. China, Myanmar, and Belarus topped the list, holding more than a third of those incarcerated. Israel’s unprecedented ranking is attributed to its use of administrative detention in the West Bank, allowing indefinite detention without charge.

Eritrea claims the top spot in Africa, detaining 16 journalists, some of whom have been in captivity since 2001—the longest-held reporters globally. In Ethiopia, eight journalists are in custody, arrested for covering a conflict in the Amhara region.

The alarming statistics continue, with 13 journalists imprisoned in Egypt, six in Cameroon, five in Senegal, four in Rwanda, and three each in Algeria and Morocco. Additionally, Togo and Angola, as well as Burundi, DR Congo, Madagascar, Nigeria, Tunisia, and Zambia, each have at least one journalist detained.

Mr Ginsberg urged that there has to be an end to the weaponisation of laws towards silencing critical reporting.

“Across the world, we have reached a critical moment. We need to see an end to the weaponization of laws that silence reporting and ensure journalists are free to report. During a banner election year, with billions headed to the polls across the world, anything less is a disservice to democracy and harms us all,” Mr Ginsberg said.