Press freedom continues to decline in the majority of countries around the world, reaching its lowest level in 25 years. Reporters Without Borders (RSF) published its annual ranking on Thursday April 30, the NGO warning of a generalized deterioration, marked by growing economic, political and legal pressures.

Published on: 01/05/2026 - 12:50

Reporters Without Borders (RSF) points out, in its annual report published Thursday April 30, a general deterioration in press freedom around the world. It reached its lowest level in 25 years, a “first time” since the creation of the ranking. "The attacks against journalists are changing. There are always journalists murdered, always journalists in prison, but the pressures are also economic, political, legal", underlines Anne Bocandé, editorial director of RSF, to AFP.

According to RSF, 94 countries in the world, or more than half, are in a "difficult" or "very serious" situation on a scale of five levels ranging from "very serious" to "good".

Norway remains, for the tenth consecutive year, in first position, while Eritrea remains at the bottom of the ranking for the third year. The United States, where Donald Trump's attacks are "systematic", loses seven places and is positioned 64th. Other countries which were "flagships of press freedom" such as Mali (121st) or Burkina Faso (110th) have seen this freedom "profoundly degraded with the arrival of military regimes", continues Anne Bocandé. France, for its part, finds itself in 25th place.

World Press Freedom Day will be held on Sunday, May 3.

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Damien Glez is a Franco-Burkinabe press cartoonist. For 25 years, he was the deputy publishing director of the satirical weekly Journal du Jeudi broadcast in Burkina Faso. He is published regularly in Rolling Stone, Jeune Afrique, Habari RDC, Benbere, Afrique Magazine, The Africa report, World policy Journal… His drawings have won awards in several international festivals.

Cartooning for Peace is an international network of cartoonists committed to promoting, through the universality of press cartoons, freedom of expression, human rights and mutual respect between populations of different cultures or beliefs.

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