Namibia has lost its position as Africa’s top nation for press freedom in 2024 according to the latest World Press Freedom Index by Reporters Without Borders (RSF). After leading the continent in 2023, Namibia’s global ranking has dropped significantly, from 29th to 45th. Political interference in the media and pressure on journalists to avoid reporting on sensitive issues are cited as key reasons for this decline, as highlighted by Tannan Groenewald of Cirrus.
Mauritania has now taken the lead as the African country with the freest press, ranking 33rd globally. Namibia follows closely at 34th, and Seychelles, South Africa, and Cabo Verde round out the top five African nations for press freedom. Globally, the RSF index evaluates countries based on factors such as media pluralism, journalist safety, legal frameworks, and overall independence.
The report emphasizes that while several African nations continue to make progress in safeguarding press freedoms, challenges remain across the continent, including instances of censorship, self-censorship, and attacks on journalists
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