(RSF/IFEX) – On 8 August 2002, RSF called for the immediate release of Agence France-Presse (AFP) and RSF correspondent Christophe Koffi, who was arrested on the evening of 7 August by four men in civilian dress. He was taken to a police station in Ougadougou, where he is still being held. “As far as we […]
(RSF/IFEX) – On 8 August 2002, RSF called for the immediate release of Agence France-Presse (AFP) and RSF correspondent Christophe Koffi, who was arrested on the evening of 7 August by four men in civilian dress. He was taken to a police station in Ougadougou, where he is still being held.
“As far as we know, nothing justifies this journalist’s detention,” RSF Secretary-General Robert Ménard said in a letter to Public Prosecutor Abdoulaye Barry. “RSF is astounded that the police have not specified any charges and is very concerned that they have acted in this fashion.” The organisation asked for his immediate release and the return of the documents and computers seized by the police.
Koffi was arrested at his workplace by four men, who searched his office and then his home, taking many documents as well as computers. Without specifying any charge, they said they wanted to question him in connection with the investigation into the 1 August murder of Balla Kéïta. Kéïta was a former government minister in Côte d’Ivoire who had joined the opposition. He had lived in Burkina Faso since March 2001, after being granted political refugee status.
