The killing of five Al Jazeera journalists in Gaza has sparked a wave of protests across the world, and Africa’s voice is rising loud in the call for justice.
On August 10, 2025, an Israeli airstrike hit a media tent near Al-Shifa Hospital in Gaza City, killing veteran correspondent Anas al-Sharif, colleagues Mohammed Qreiqeh, Ibrahim Zaher, Mohammed Noufal, and freelance videographer Moamen Aliwa. Israel alleges links to Hamas, but Al Jazeera and global press freedom groups have rejected these claims, calling them baseless and dangerous.
From Cape Town to Nairobi, African journalists, activists, and ordinary citizens have stood in solidarity with Gaza’s press community. In Cape Town’s CBD, protesters marched under banners reading: “Silence is complicity” and “Journalism is not a crime.” Similar scenes played out in cities like Dakar, Kampala, and Lagos showing Africa’s commitment to defending truth and free speech.
“When they kill a journalist, they kill a voice for the voiceless,” said Ugandan journalist and media trainer Sarah Kabuye at a Kampala vigil. “Africa understands this pain because we have fought for our press freedoms and will not be silent now.”
The outrage is global. Thousands gathered in London, Manila, Washington DC, Dublin, Barcelona, and Houston, holding vigils and demanding an independent investigation. In Barcelona, hundreds rallied with the message: “Israel does not want testimonies of genocide; silence is complicity.” In Houston, demonstrators also called out U.S. media for biased coverage of Gaza.
Africa’s solidarity is rooted in shared history, from colonial-era censorship to modern-day crackdowns on reporters. Many African journalists have faced harassment, exile, or worse for speaking truth to power. The death of Anas al-Sharif, who documented Gaza’s suffering for years despite repeated threats, resonates deeply with African storytellers who know the price of courage.
International watchdogs, including the Committee to Protect Journalists and PEN America, have condemned the killings, warning they could amount to war crimes. This year has already become the deadliest for media workers in modern history, with Gaza being the most dangerous assignment on Earth.
As vigils continue, Africa’s message is clear: the killing of journalists is not just a Palestinian tragedy, but it is a global crisis. And the continent will not look away.