Namibian media outlets have reacted with anger and dismay after they were asked by the US embassy whether they were affiliated with western publications whose subscriptions have been cancelled by the US state department.
On 11 February, the state department ordered its outposts to cancel “non-mission critical” media subscriptions as part of the Trump administration’s drive to cut government costs.
A 14 February directive then instructed prioritising the cancellation of subscriptions to the Economist, the New York Times, Politico, Bloomberg News, the Associated Press and Reuters, according to the Washington Post.
Donald Trump’s second presidential term has started with a wave of initiatives to slash the size of government and purge it of anything deemed to be liberal.
The Namibian, an independent newspaper, was asked by a US embassy staff member on 18 February via email: “Are you or any of your services associated/affiliated with the following companies: The Economist, The New York Times, Politico, Bloomberg News Feed, Associated Press, or Reuters? If so, could you please explain how? ie Do you re-run their stories or are you a subsidiary of the publication?”
The email said: “The Embassy was asked not to subscribe to any media subscriptions that do not align with Department’s goals, such as making America safer, stronger, and more prosperous, as well as ensuring the safety, security, and welfare of the workforce, and fulfilling statutory or treaty obligations.”
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The US embassy confirmed that its spending review also involved advertising, according to the Namibian’s editor, Tangeni Amupadhi. He said the now-drastically downsized USAid had spent a small amount advertising contract tenders and that the embassy bought a handful of newspaper copies.
A spokesperson for the US embassy in Namibia acknowledged questions sent by email, but deferred to the Washington DC media team, which did not immediately reply to questions. It was not clear if other US missions had sent out similar emails.
Amupadhi and other Namibian editors reacted with concern and indignation to the US demand. He said: “We thought it was just unbelievable that they can be so blatant in trying to tell us or ask us whether we aligned with their agenda.
“We are an independent news organisation. Not even in our country do we allow our government to insist on us having to be aligned with their agenda.”
Ester Mbathera, the assistant editor of the Windhoek Observer, a free, privately owned, online publication that also received the email, said: “I have a big concern around it, because it might infringe on the editorial independence of this publication … Was it a plan that the US embassy wants to try to see how they can stifle democracy in Africa?”
Frank Steffen, the chair of the Editors’ Forum of Namibia, said: “Namibians from all walks of life subscribe to the idea of a free press … I am therefore surprised to find American authorities trying to interfere with media in Namibia, a media that is primarily focused on and reports in an unbiased manner about local and regional politics, with international developments mostly playing second fiddle.”