Billionaire Takeover Sparks Concerns Over Press Freedom in East Africa

Rostam Aziz, a prominent Tanzanian businessman and politician, has acquired a majority stake in Nation Media Group (NMG), East Africa's largest independent media company. The move has sparked concerns among press freedom advocates who worry it could compromise the editorial independence of the group's influential newspapers, radio stations, and television channels.

NMG, which operates in Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, and Rwanda, is known for its investigative journalism and critical reporting on governments and powerful figures across the region. The purchase of a controlling interest by Aziz, who has significant business and political ties, has raised fears that the media outlet could be pressured to soften its coverage or avoid certain sensitive topics.

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