Press freedom : the journalist exile explodes worldwide, according to Reporters Without Borders

SOS Médias Burundi

Bujumbura, June 21, 2026—The number of countries where journalists are forced to flee threats, persecution, or conflict has doubled in five years, according to a report published by Reporters Without Borders (RSF) on the occasion of the World Refugee Day. The organization has supported nearly 1,500 journalists in exile since 2021 and is calling on states to strengthen their protection. In Africa, the deteriorating security situation in the Great Lakes region and the Sahel is contributing to the spread of this phenomenon, which now affects every continent.

Through a groundbreaking mapping of journalists’ exile, Reporters Without Borders (RSF) paints an alarming picture : between 2021 and 2025, at least 1,468 journalists from more than 60 countries were forced to flee their homelands to escape threats, imprisonment, violence, or death.

According to the organization’s data, the number of countries affected by the forced exile of journalists rose from 19 in 2021 to 40 in 2025.

For RSF, this increase reflects the ongoing erosion of press freedom in several regions of the world.

“The exile journeys of journalists supported by RSF paint a global map of repression each year,” explains Vianney Loriquet, head of the World Press Freedom Index at the organization.

The Great Lakes and the Sahel increasingly affected

In sub-Saharan Africa, Reporters Without Borders (RSF) notes a worsening situation in several countries.

The organization cites, in particular, the resumption of fighting in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, which has forced many journalists to flee their country.

According to the report, 21 Congolese journalists fled in 2025 with RSF’s assistance, most finding refuge in Burundi or Uganda.

The phenomenon also affects several Sahel countries where armed conflicts, military transitions, and restrictions on civil liberties are making the practice of journalism increasingly dangerous.

Mali, Burkina Faso, Chad, Guinea, and other countries in the region are now among the areas where the exile of journalists is steadily increasing.

For Reporters Without Borders (RSF), this geographical expansion demonstrates that repression against the media is no longer limited to a few authoritarian regimes but extends to a wide variety of contexts, marked by security crises, armed conflicts, or the weakening of democratic institutions.

Afghanistan remains the epicenter of journalistic exile.

Afghanistan remains the most affected country.

Since the Taliban returned to power in August 2021, RSF has assisted 677 Afghan journalists in their exile.

This figure represents nearly half of the cases documented by the organization worldwide.

Dispersed across 28 countries, many Afghan journalists continue to live in precarious conditions.

In neighboring Pakistan, several dozen have reportedly been forcibly returned to Afghanistan as part of Islamabad’s policy of expelling Afghan refugees.

Others find themselves without legal status after their residency permits expire.

Meanwhile, the Taliban authorities continue their tight control over the media. Several journalists remain detained in the country, according to RSF data.

Russia : repression crosses borders

Russia is also among the main countries of origin for exiled journalists.

Since 2021, at least 160 Russian journalists supported by RSF have left the country.

The 2022 invasion of Ukraine and the tightening of legislation against independent media accelerated these departures.

Even when living abroad, many Russian journalists continue to be prosecuted or convicted in absentia.

According to RSF, the Kremlin’s repression now extends beyond Russia’s borders through various forms of judicial and administrative harassment.

Burma and Latin America under pressure

In Burma, the military junta’s repression continues to drive journalists into exile.

Since the February 2021 coup, more than 100 journalists have left the country with RSF’s support.

Around 300 Burmese journalists are believed to have found refuge in Thailand, where many live in precarious conditions, without stable legal status or social security.

In Latin America, violence perpetrated by criminal groups and pressure exerted by certain authoritarian regimes are also fueling the exile of media professionals.

Since the beginning of 2026, six journalists have already been killed in Mexico, Colombia, and Guatemala.

For many reporters, exile appears to be the only alternative to death or reprisals.

Exile does not mean safety

RSF emphasizes that the difficulties do not end once the border is crossed.

Exiled journalists often face economic hardship, administrative hurdles, social isolation, language barriers, and sometimes even threats from their countries of origin.

The organization also reports an increase in cases of transnational repression targeting journalists in exile.

“When a journalist is forced to flee their country, exile does not end the threats,” notes Victoria Lavenue, head of RSF’s Assistance Bureau.

According to her, these professionals nevertheless continue to play a vital role in the fight against disinformation and propaganda.

A call for better protection of refugee journalists

In response to this situation, RSF has issued ten recommendations for states hosting journalists in exile.

The organization advocates, in particular, for the granting of emergency and long-term visas, the expedited issuance of residence permits and work permits, and the establishment of protection mechanisms against transnational threats.

It also recommends increased financial support for media outlets in exile to enable them to continue their mission of informing the public.

For RSF, protecting journalists forced into exile is not solely a matter of humanitarian action.

“Ensuring their protection and allowing them to continue their journalistic work is essential to defending the right to information and maintaining democratic debate,” says Victoria Lavenue.

While the number of journalists forced to flee their countries remains high, the organization considers journalism in exile to be one of the last bulwarks against disinformation, propaganda, and the disappearance of independent voices in many countries around the world.