Salem Solomon

VOA Exclusive: Niger’s Samira Sabou wins International Press Freedom award

Nigerian investigative journalist and activist Samira Sabou is being honored with an International Press Freedom award for her work reporting on Niger’s governance issues. Reporter Abdoul-Razak Idrissa recently met with Sabou in Niamey, Niger for this story, narrated by Salem Solomon.

Burkinabe Journalist Speaks Out Against Gender-Based Violence

Wracked by conflict and unrest, Burkina Faso is a tough environment for journalists, with issues like rape and sexual violence often taboo. But Mariam Ouedraogo is pushing back to provide a platform through her reporting, for those affected by unrest. While in Washington to receive an award, she spoke with VOA’s Salem Solomon about her career.

Nigeria Warns Possible Anthrax Outbreak

Nigerian authorities are calling on herders in the West African nation to inoculate their cows while urging citizens to reduce consumption of cooked animal hides, a delicacy known as “pomo,” in reaction to an anthrax outbreak in Ghana. For more, reporter Gibson Emeka produced this report that was narrated by VOA’s Salem Solomon which spotlights reactions by Nigerian authorities, citizens and veterinarians.

Press Freedom Threatened in Eritrea

World Press Freedom Day will be marked globally Wednesday and VOA is highlighting different countries where press freedom is restricted. For an analysis into the current press freedoms in Eritrea, VOA's Vincent Makori spoke to VOA Senior Africa Editor Salem Solomon. 

Russia’s Wagner Group Reportedly Involved in Sudan's Conflict

U.S. authorities have express concern following reports of Russia-linked paramilitary organization Wagner Group possibly fueling the conflict in Sudan by supplying weapons to one of the warring parties. VOA’s Salem Solomon has more.

Gruesome Murder of Cameroonian Journalist Reveals Corruption Network

WASHINGTON — Haman Mana, the publisher of one of Cameroon’s daily newspapers, Le Jour, remembers the last conversation he had with his friend, the broadcast journalist Martinez Zogo.  

Burkina Faso Banning Free Press ‘Bit by Bit,’ Journalist Says

Burkina Faso’s military government suspended the international broadcaster France 24 after it had aired an excerpt of an interview with the head of a regional al-Qaida affiliate. VOA’s Salem Solomon spoke to the journalist who conducted the interview.

African 'Woman of Iron' Who Stood Against Pressure Speaks  

Daniele Darlan, a professor and former president of the Constitutional Court of the Central African Republic, was one of this year's International Women of Courage award recipients, recognized for not buckling under pressure when authorities tried to tamper with the country’s constitution. She sat down with VOA’s Salem Solomon and shared her perspective of why the rule of law is important.

Ahead of Vote, Nigerians Demand Results From Next Leader

As Nigerians prepare to vote Saturday, VOA’s Hausa Service spoke with people who shared their hopes, expectations and fears about the direction of the country.

Ethiopia Situation Bleak: Gallup Poll

A recent survey conducted by U.S. analytics company Gallup depicts a bleak picture of Ethiopians who are suffering emotionally and economically after two years of war.

VOA Reporters Discuss Highlights of 2022

Managing editor Vincent Makori of VOA's Africa 54 program, sat down with colleagues Salem Solomon, News Center Multimedia Editor and Jackson Mvunganyi, host of Red Carpet and Upfront to discuss developments that dominated the continent in 2022. Among the most significant were the peace agreement signed by Ethiopia's government and the Tigray People's Liberation Front, the Climate Change Conference in Sharm El Sheik, Egypt, World Cup and the 2nd U.S. Africa Leaders Summit in Washington, DC.

VOA Town Hall: Activists Weigh in on Ethiopia's Future

There were emotional moments and moments of disagreements, but most of the attendees at a recently-held town hall by VOA's Horn of Africa Service showed that it is possible to have a civil and honest discussion about the future of their home country - Ethiopia. As Ethiopians the world over anxiously watch to see if a fragile peace agreement will hold, these group of people from the Ethiopian diaspora gathered in VOA's Washington headquarters for a rare opportunity to speak about the two years of conflict that has torn the country apart. The gathering brought together activists, scholars, and others from multiple ethnic groups as Salem Solomon reports.

Challenges Journalists are Facing in Ethiopia

Harassed, beaten, and finally expelled, Tom Gardner, a Correspondent with The Economist, speaks with VOA’s Salem Solomon about challenges he and other journalists face covering the war in Ethiopia.

Journalists Expelled by Ethiopia Say Reporting on Country Is Difficult

Journalists covering the war in Ethiopia have been harassed, beaten and expelled. VOA’s Salem Solomon spoke to Tom Gardner, a correspondent for The Economist newspaper, about the challenges of reporting in Ethiopia.

Congolese Nobel Laureate Campaigns Against Wartime Rape

Mukwege says rape during conflict is meant to destroy and humiliate victims and he calls for an immediate end to it and seeks justice for victims

Amnesty Report Details Axum Massacre in Ethiopia

Amnesty International says hundreds of Ethiopian civilians were killed by Eritrean troops

Thousands Flee Violence in Ethiopia’s Tigray Region

Ethiopian refugees are flooding a border town in neighboring Sudan

Ethiopia’s Instability Threatens to Engulf Region

Federal and regional forces are battling in the latest escalation

Family of Detained Rwanda Hotelier Rejects Defense Lawyer

Rights Groups Question Hotelier's Prospect for Fair Trial

Paul Rusesabagina was arrested on terrorism charges last month