France, Feb. 11 -- Several African governments are using the Covid-19 pandemic as an excuse to crack down on the right to free speech and peaceful demonstration, Human Rights Watch has said in a report published on Thursday.

"Governments should counter Covid-19 by encouraging people to mask up, not shut up," said Gerry Simpson from HRW.

Governments are targeting journalists, activists, healthcare workers and political opposition groups who criticise the response to the pandemic, the New York-based rights watchdog said.

Covid-19 is used to justify attacks against critics, as well as detentions or sometimes killings of those who disagree with their handling of the health crisis.Quashing peaceful demonstrations

The virus has also been us...