Freedom on the Net in Africa

Freedom House has just released its "Freedom on the Net" report that assessed the level of internet and digital media freedom in 65 countries, including 16 in Africa.

Of the 16 countries included in Africa, the best performing was South Africa, followed by Kenya, Angola, Nigeria, and Tunisia. Although much improved over last year, Sudan was the worst performing. Egypt, Ethiopia (also much improved over last year), Rwanda, and Zimbabwe followed as worst performing.

Digital Media in the Horn of Africa

The Open Society Foundations published a paper in December 2011 titled Mapping Digital Media: Digital Media, Conflict and Diasporas in the Horn of Africa by Iginio Gagliardone and Nicole Stremlau. The paper shows how the development of the internet, mobile phones and other new communication technologies have been shaped by conflict and power struggles in Ethiopia, Eritrea, Somalia and Somaliland. The paper gives particular attention to the role played by diasporas, which have been highly influential in starting the first websites, blogs and forums covering the politics of the Horn and facilitating debates among Eritreans, Ethiopians and Somalis.