Ranking of Press freedom in African countries

Press freedom supported by the right to information is one of the fundamentals of democracy. But journalists and media actors continue to face restrictions in all parts of the world. African countries are not an exception to it. Overview of the ranking of press freedom in Africa, according to Reporters Without Borders.

Africa is one of the parts of the world where press freedom is lagging. Although there have been improvements in some places, efforts for a freer, more independent press need to be strengthened. Below is the overall ranking of the top African countries in 2020.

A ranking proposed by Reporters Without Borders (RSF) – this recently published classification covers 180 countries and territories in the African continent.

RSF notes, however, that profound changes, the only way to foster the development of quality, free and independent journalism, are still too rare in some countries. Worse, in some countries such as Tanzania (124th, – 6) or Benin (113th, – 17) are experiencing very significant setbacks.

“Long-term arbitrary arrests and detentions are on the rise on the continent. Many forms of attacks, especially online, and new repressive laws, which, in the name of the fight against disinformation. Or cybercrime can be used to restrict freedom of information abusively,” warns the international NGO that defends press freedom and the protection of journalists.

Note that countries are rated on a scale of 100. The closer we get to this rate, the more freedom of the press is hampered in the country.

African countries in the RSF world press freedom ranking

S/NCountry2020 Rank2020 scoreProgression2019 Rank2019 Score
1Namibia2319.2502318.95
2Cape verde2520.2502519.82
3Ghana 3022.26-32720.81
4South Africa3122.41031 22.19
5Burkina Faso3823.47-23624.53
6Botswana 3923.5654425.09
7Senegal4723.9924925.81
8Madagascar5427.680 54 27.76
9Mauritius5628.00258 28.46
10Niger5728.25966 29.26
11Seychelles 6328.66669 29.41
12Ivory Coast6828.94371 29.52
13Malawi6929.32 -168 29.36
14Togo7129.33 576 29.69
15Comoros7529.77-1956 27.91
16Sierra Leone8530.28 186 30.36
17Lesotho8630.45 -8 78 29.74
18Gambia8730.62 592 31.35
19Guinea-Bissau9432.06 -589 30.95
20Liberia9532.25-293 31.49
21Mauritania9732.54-394 31.65
22Ethiopia9932.82 11110 35.11
23Kenya103 33.72 -3 100 32.44
24Mozambique10433.79 -1 103 32.66
25Angola106 33.923109 34.96
26Mali10834.12 4 112 35.23
27Guinea 11034.34 -3 107 33.49
28Benin 11335.11-1796 31.74
29Nigeria11535.635120 36.50
30Congo11836.56 -1117 36.04
31Zambia12037.00-1 119 36.38
32Gabon12137.20 -6 115 35.60
33Chad12339.70-1122 36.71
34Tanzania12440.25-6 118 36.28
35Uganda12540.95 0125 39.42
36Zimbabwe12640.951127 42.23
37Central african republic13242.8713145 47.27
38Cameroon134 43.28-3 131 43.32
39South Sudan13844.491 139 45.65
40Swaziland14145.156147 49.09
41DR Congo 15049.09 4154 51.71
42Rwanda15550.340155 52.43
43Sudan159 55.3316175 72.45
44Burundi16055.33-1 159 52.89
45Somalia16355.451 164 57.24
46Equatorial Guinea 16556.380165 58.35
47Djibouti176 76.73-3 173 71.36
48Eritrea17883.500 178 80.26
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