Seven African countries are among the deadliest places to practise journalism in 2014, figures released yesterday by the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) have showed.

The annual report of the New York, USA-based group showed that 60 journalists have been killed worldwide in the outgoing year. Out of this, 10 deaths were recorded in Africa, with Somalia accounting for 4; Egypt 1, South Africa 1, Central African Republic 1, Democratic Republic of the Congo 1, Guinea 1 and Libya 1.

Worldwide, Syria accounted fro the most deaths, with 17 journalists dying as a direct result of covering the civil war in that country. CPJ said it was still investigating the deaths of at least 18 other journalists to determine if they were work-related.

The latest figures brought the death toll of journalists from the Syrian civil war to 79 since the conflict began in March 2011. Nearly half of all journalists killed in 2014 died in the Middle East.

In all, 2014’s overall toll is lower than the 70 journalists killed worldwide last year.

CPJ began compiling records on journalism-related deaths in 1992. Its records show that Iraq, Syria and the Philippines have been the deadliest countries for journalists since that year.

•Photo shows the body of South African freelance photographer, Michael Tshele, who was shot dead while photographing a community protest in Mothutlung near the town of Britz in the North West province, being conveyed for burial.