Gambia: Bans Lifted On Two Media, but Much Still to Be Done

Gambia's few independent media are often threatened on the grounds that they pose a danger to state security. Media personnel live in constant fear and censor themselves. Journalists who cause offence may have their passports confiscated to prevent them leaving the country. Others are subjected to judicial persecution.

 The announcement lifting the bans on The Standard and Teranga FM urged them to "operate within the framework of the laws governing the media in this country." But this offers few guarantees as the main media law, already one of the most repressive in Africa, was made even tougher last July. -Read more here