Africans overwhelmingly support the media's vital role in holding governments accountable, particularly in combating corruption.

This is according to a recent Afrobarometer Pan-Africa Profile.

The findings illustrate strong public backing for the media's right to report freely, devoid of government interference.

A solid majority of Africans perceive their media as largely free, though assessments vary across countries.

According to the survey, 72 per cent of Africans believe that the media should consistently investigate and report on government mistakes and corruption, underscoring the importance placed on transparency and accountability. Conversely, only 25 per cent express concerns that excessive reporting on negative events may harm the country.

Support for media freedom is prevalent across the continent, with 65% endorsing the principle that the media should have the right to publish diverse views and ideas without government control. This sentiment is particularly strong in countries like Seychelles, Mauritius, Gabon, and Congo-Brazzaville.

However, perceptions of media freedom vary, with only 57 per cent of Africans considering their media to be free from government interference. While countries like Tanzania, Gambia, Tunisia, and Mauritania are seen as having largely free media, others like Gabon, Congo-Brazzaville, and Eswatini exhibit lower levels of confidence in media freedom.

Despite the rise of digital media, radio remains the most accessed medium for news, with 65 per cent of citizens tuning in at least a few times a week. Television follows closely behind, with 54 per cent of Africans gathering news from this platform. Social media and the internet also play significant roles in information dissemination, accessed by 45 per cent and 41 per cent of respondents, respectively. However, newspaper readership remains relatively low, with only 15 per cent reading newspapers at least a few times a week.