The 2025 World Press Freedom Index by Reporters Without Borders (RSF) has unveiled Africa’s top press-friendly countries, with South Africa leading the charge.
According to the report, South Africa emerged as Africa’s top press-friendly country, placing 27th out of 180 countries globally, a notable jump of 11 positions from its ranking last year.
Following closely, Namibia secured second place in Africa, ranking 28th globally.
Cape Verde (30th) also ranks in the same category, rounding up a small group of three African countries that uphold press freedom standards alongside European and Asian counterparts.
According to the report, South Africa, Namibia, and Cape Verde scored between 70 and 85 points, meaning journalists are relatively safe and work in an open environment.
While South Africa is Africa’s top press-friendly country in 2025, no country broke into the 85 – 100 points category which indicates that journalism is fully protected with few or no constraints.
Further breakdown of Africa’s top press-friendly countries reports revealed that in the problematic section, Ghana ranked fourth on the continent.
Senegal ranked fifth, Seychelles ranked sixth, Botswana ranked seventh, Malawi ranked eighth, and Gabon ranked ninth in Africa’s press-friendly country ranking.
Ghana (49), Mauritius (50), Senegal (74), Seychelles (59), Botswana (65), Malawi (72), Gabon (41) scored between 55 – 70 points.
This means countries in this category have structural issues and pressure from political or economic actors.
On the other hand, Nigeria is placed in the difficult section, ranking 122 globally, according to the report.
Tunisia (129), Cameroon (131), DR Congo (133), Somalia (136), Libya (137), Kenya (117), Benin (92), Togo (121), Guinea (103), Burkina Faso (105), Mali (119), Uganda (143), Burundi (125) round up the difficult section.
Countries in the difficult section scored between 40 – 55 points, meaning press freedom is significantly constrained and journalists are often self-censored. Rwanda (146), Ethiopia (145), Egypt (170), Eritrea (180) found themselves in the very serious section.
These countries scored between 0 – 40 points. According to the report, journalism is dangerous or impossible in these countries.
Pan-Atlantic Kompass reports that the World Press Freedom Index, compiled annually by RSF, evaluates 180 countries based on political context, legal framework, economic environment, sociocultural climate, and journalist safety.
