(RSF/IFEX) – RSF has expressed outrage over President Laurent Gbagbo’s heavy-handed takeover of the state media following the 28 November 2006 announcement of the dismissal of Radiotélévision ivoirienne (RTI) Director Kébé Yacouba. Yacouba was replaced by Brou Amessan, who served as a news anchor during the January takeover of the station by the nationalist pro-government […]
(RSF/IFEX) – RSF has expressed outrage over President Laurent Gbagbo’s heavy-handed takeover of the state media following the 28 November 2006 announcement of the dismissal of Radiotélévision ivoirienne (RTI) Director Kébé Yacouba. Yacouba was replaced by Brou Amessan, who served as a news anchor during the January takeover of the station by the nationalist pro-government youth movement, the “Jeunes patriotes” (“Young Patriots”).
Expressing concern that the move could lead to the resurgence of a “warmongering media”, the organisation called on the UN to press Gbagbo to respect RTI’s independence.
The move came in response to RTI’s airing of a press release by Prime Minister Charles Konan Banny, calling for an “urgent” stay of the order to reinstate the civil servants previously dismissed for their role in a toxic chemical spill in the capital, Abidjan. Gbagbo called the decision to air the piece “inflammatory.”
Presidential spokesperson Désiré Tagro announced Yacouba’s discharge and the dissolution of RTI’s board at noon (local time) on 28 November. The announcement defended the dismissal, saying the station’s decision to broadcast a press release “calling for the non-application of signed government decrees and suggesting a serious breach of social order, is a serious offence for the sole state broadcaster.”
On 26 November Gbagbo announced the discharge of the director of the government daily “Fraternité Matin” – one of the few neutral papers in the capital – and the dissolution of the paper’s managing board.
In November 2004 and January 2006, the “Young Patriots” seized the RTI station, taking over control of programming and launching calls for insurrection and violence that often resulted in tragic consequences in the capital’s streets.
