A senior journalist urged African leaders to respect media work and give them a chance to express their freedom.
International Journalists Federation Programme Officer for Africa Pa Louis Thomasi said media work in Africa change drastically in the past ten years because journalists became reluctant to disseminate information to citizens, Bakhita Radio reported.
He pointed out that all over the continent, journalists everyday undergo censorship, intimidation and harassment.
Mr Thomasi said many times the civil society do not defend media practitioners when they encounter problems.
He urged civil society organizations and journalists to work together in executing their roles.
Mr Thomasi appealed to African leaders to put in place mechanisms that protect the journalists’ work.
He said all over Africa, journalists are brutally harassed and the perpetuators are not brought to justice.
Mr Thomasi urged African leaders to take immediate steps to bring journalists’ abusers to law.
He made the remarks during journalists trainingg on Trade Union development in Juba on Monday.