Africa: RSF 2025 Press Freedom Rankings - Guinea Leads in West Africa's Sharp Decline

West Africa is experiencing a significant decline in press freedom. This information comes from the 2025 global rankings by Reporters Without Borders (RSF). The RSF report was released in early May. It shows a worsening global trend, downgrading press freedom from "problematic" to "difficult."

In West Africa, eleven out of sixteen countries saw declines. Guinea had the steepest fall, dropping 31 places. It fell from 74th in 2024 to 103rd this year. Only four countries improved: Cape Verde, Senegal, Sierra Leone, and Liberia. The Gambia's ranking remained unchanged.

The rankings reveal widespread declines across the region. Burkina Faso dropped nineteen places, from 86 to 105. Guinea-Bissau fell eighteen places, from 92 to 110. Mauritania dropped seventeen places, falling from 33 to 50. Ivory Coast slid eleven places, from 53 to 64; Nigeria fell ten places, from 112 to 122.

Togo slumped eight places, going from 113 to 121. Mali fell five spots, dropping from 114 to119. Niger and Benin both dropped three places as well. Ghana's ranking decreased slightly from 50 to52.

Four countries recorded improvements in their rankings this year. Senegal rose twenty places, moving up from94 to74. Cape Verde improved by eleven spots, climbing from41to30. Sierra Leone climbed eight spots, going from64to56; Liberia rose six places, moving up from60to54.

The Gambia stagnated at its previous position of58 with no movement this year.

The RSF index highlights issues within civic space in West Africa. As democracy weakens in some countries like Mali and Burkina Faso, media freedom suffers greatly. In Mali, media houses face arbitrary suspensions and activists are abducted. In Niger, the media association has been suspended and journalists are often arrested.

Journalists and media outlets are among the first victims of rising authoritarianism. These rankings should prompt urgent action across the region. Stakeholders must work harder to defend freedom of expression and protect media independence.