(RSF/IFEX) – In an open letter published on 14 September 2005, the family of missing journalist Guy-André Kieffer presented an “appeal to all Ivorian citizens of goodwill.” Kieffer, a journalist with dual French and Canadian citizenship, went missing in Côte d’Ivoire more than 500 days ago. Bernard Kieffer, the journalist’s brother, has urged all Ivorians […]
(RSF/IFEX) – In an open letter published on 14 September 2005, the family of missing journalist Guy-André Kieffer presented an “appeal to all Ivorian citizens of goodwill.” Kieffer, a journalist with dual French and Canadian citizenship, went missing in Côte d’Ivoire more than 500 days ago. Bernard Kieffer, the journalist’s brother, has urged all Ivorians who may have information about the missing journalist to contact the family.
Kieffer, an Abidjan-based freelance reporter, went missing on 16 April 2004. He was last seen at around 1:00 p.m. (local time) on 16 April in an Abidjan shopping centre. Kieffer worked for the French business daily “La Tribune” from 1984 to early 2002. He subsequently moved to Abidjan and freelanced for “La Lettre du Continent” and several Ivorian newspapers.
Michel Legré, the brother-in-law of President Laurent Gbagbo’s wife Simone, is the last person to have seen Kieffer before he went missing. On 21 October 2004, Judge Patrick Ramaël charged him with “abducting and holding” the journalist. On 13 December, the investigating judge requested Legré’s transfer to France for two months for questioning. Legré is currently being held in an Abidjan detention centre. The Ivorian authorities have not responded to Ramaël’s request.
