Challenges to press freedoms often arise when journalists attempt to cover sensitive topics, particularly corruption, human rights abuses, or the ongoing conflict in the northern province of Cabo Delgado. It is in these critical zones that the gap between legal framework and practice becomes most pronounced. Cases of direct harassment and assault are alarmingly common, and the disappearance of journalists, such as Ibraimo Mbaruco in 2020, serves as a chilling reminder of the dangers faced. While direct arrests are sometimes masked under vague national security or defamation laws, the threat of withdrawal of credentials, physical intimidation, and crippling lawsuits are frequently deployed to encourage self-censorship, particularly amongst regional correspondents.