Africa

June 12, 2025

USA Today: I was wrongfully imprisoned abroad. The US must do more to help people like me.

Tags Share In 2020, Paul Rusesabagina was kidnapped and wrongfully imprisoned by the Rwandan government for speaking out against President Paul Kagame and his repressive government. With the support of his family, human rights organizations, and Hollywood celebrities, his story gained international attention, ultimately enabling the U.S. government to secure his release after 939 days
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May 20, 2025

Cameroon: RFK Human Rights Condemns Sustained Attacks against REDHAC

Tags Share We strongly condemn the Cameroonian government’s ban on the activities of and sustained attacks against the Network of Human Rights Defenders in Central Africa (REDHAC, by its French acronym), led by RFK Human Rights Award Laureate Maximillienne Ngo Mbe. We call on the government to lift the ban, unseal REDHAC’s offices, and desist
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May 15, 2025

Gender-based Violence Against Women Journalists in East and West Africa

For more on civic space and violence against women, subscribe to our newsletter. Stay up to date with the Justice Roundup—your source for the latest news, reports, victories, and events from our legal team, delivered straight to your inbox. Tags Share Journalists across the globe are faced with violence, harassment, criminalization, and even death for
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May 14, 2025

#TunisiaExit – Unpacking Tunisia’s Restriction on Citizens’ Access to the African Court

Tags Share In early March, Tunisia officially revoked its citizens’ abilities to file cases against the government in Africa’s human rights court. On March 7, 2025, Tunisia notified the African Union (AU) of its decision to withdraw the Article 34(6) declaration that allows individuals and non-governmental organizations to file cases against it before the African Court
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April 25, 2025

SJS and RFK Human Rights condemn the ban on reporting and attacks on journalists in Somalia

Tags Share MOGADISHU/WASHINGTON DC – The Somali Journalists Syndicate (SJS) and RFK Human Rights strongly denounce the trend of attacks on journalists amidst the worsening security environment in Somalia. Somali authorities must uphold their legal obligations to guarantee freedom of expression for journalists and all Somali citizens. In recent months, freedom of the press in
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April 3, 2025

Arusha Initiative Hosts Second Town Hall

Sign up to get the latest on the Arusha Initiative and African human rights news. Subscribe to the Justice Roundup newsletter for our advocacy and litigation newsletter, delivered straight to your inbox. Tags Share On March 26, the Arusha Initiative held its second virtual Town Hall. Participants discussed the importance of transparency and accountability within
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March 20, 2025

African Court admits RFK Human Rights and IHRDA as amici curiae in case on electoral rights in Tanzania

Tags Share The African Court on Human and Peoples’ Rights has granted the request by the Institute for Human Rights and Development in Africa (IHRDA) and Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights (RFK Human Rights) to intervene as amici curiae in the case Ado Shaibu and 5 Others v. United Republic of Tanzania (Application 046/2020). The
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March 13, 2025

RFK Human Rights Submits Petition to the UNWGAD on Behalf of Mr. Ouro-Gouni Motala of Togo

Tags Share RFK Human Rights submitted a petition to the United Nations Working Group on Arbitrary Detention (UNWGAD) on behalf of Ouro-Gouni Motala, a Togolese metalsmith who was arbitrarily detained in a discriminatory wave of arrests by the Togolese authorities targeting members of the Kotokoli ethnic group. Mr. Ouro-Gouni was first arrested in late 2019
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February 10, 2025

Egypt: CFJ and RFK Human Rights Highlight Human Rights Situation in Egypt’s Universal Periodic Review

Tags Share Geneva, Switzerland and Washington D.C., United States [February 10, 2025] – The Committee for Justice (CFJ) and RFK Human Rights highlighted the situation of human rights in a joint submission to the United Nations around Egypt’s Universal Periodic Review. In the joint submission, CFJ and RFK Human Rights provide an overview of the
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January 16, 2025

Uganda: Summary Conviction of Eron Kiiza and abuse of Military Courts an assault on Human Rights

Tags Share RFK Human Rights condemns the vicious assault and summary conviction of human rights lawyer Eron Kiiza by a military court martial in Uganda. Mr. Kiiza, who represents opposition leader and former presidential candidate Dr. Kizza Besigye in a politically motivated case before the court-martial, was sentenced to 9 months in prison for contempt
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January 7, 2025

Steven Mukum, 2024-2025 JLYL Fellow, receives prestigious Diana Award

Tags Share Steven (Tuti) Mukum, a John Lewis Young Leaders fellow and student set to graduate Swarthmore College next year, has received the prestigious Diana Award, which celebrates and empowers students who are creating positive change around the world. Established in the memory of the late Diana, Princess of Wales, the program is rooted in
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December 17, 2024

Kakwenza Rukirabashaija v. Uganda: Novelist Arrested and Tortured for His Writing

Kakwenza Rukirabashaija is a renowned novelist from Uganda who was arbitrarily arrested and detained on three occasions for his writings criticizing Ugandan government officials. While in detention, he was repeatedly tortured by state security forces.
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