Pro-government student group implicated in violations of freedom of expression and other human-rights abuses; Human Rights Watch calls for end to impunity
(HRW/IFEX) – The following is a Human Rights Watch press release: Côte d’Ivoire: End Impunity for Pro-Government Student Group Government Should Investigate, Punish Those Responsible for Crimes (Abidjan, May 21, 2008) – The government of Côte d’Ivoire should take immediate steps to end impunity for members of a pro-government student group responsible for numerous acts […]
World Report 2008: Côte d’Ivoire
World Report 2008: Côte d’Ivoire
Freedom of the Press 2007: Côte d’Ivoire
Freedom of the Press 2007: Côte d’Ivoire
Government suspends RFI indefinitely
(CPJ/IFEX) – The following is a 5 February 2008 CPJ press release: Ivorian government indefinitely suspends RFI New York, February 5, 2008 – Authorities in the Ivorian economic capital of Abidjan indefinitely suspended the FM broadcasts of France-based Radio France Internationale (RFI) on Friday. The reason given was the absence of a permanent correspondent in […]
NGO activist receives one-year prison sentence for libel and contempt of court
(RSF/IFEX) – Reporters Without Borders is astounded by the one-year prison sentence which an Abidjan criminal court imposed on activist Antoine Assalé Tiémoko on 4 January 2008 for “contempt of court and “libelling the prosecutor’s office” in an op-ed piece about judicial corruption that he wrote for the daily “Le Nouveau Réveil” on 14 December […]
Freelance French photographer detained in Abidjan
(RSF/IFEX) – RSF and the Gamma agency have expressed their concern for Jean-Paul Rey, a freelance French photographer arrested in Abidjan on 27 December 2007 and detained since then in the context of an investigation into an alleged “plot” aiming to sabotage the peace process. The organisation and the agency have asked the Ivoirian authorities […]
President Gbagbo demands “outrageous compensation” following publication of articles accusing him of corruption
(MFWA/IFEX) – Lawyers of Ivorian President Laurent Gbagbo are seeking exorbitant compensation for defamation from five journalists of two pro-opposition dailies which if granted by the court, could result in the newspapers getting bankrupt. The lawyers made the request on 26 September 2007 at the resumed trial of the journalists before a Plateau Magistrate’s court […]
IFJ calls for the end of intimidation of journalists reporting on good governance
(IFJ/IFEX) – The following is a 14 September 2007 IFJ media release: IFJ Calls for the End of Intimidation of Journalists Reporting on Good Governance in Côte d’Ivoire The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) today condemned the recent interrogations, threats and harassment of journalists reporting on government spending in Côte d’Ivoire. Three journalists have been […]
Police summon five journalists of two opposition newspapers
(MFWA/IFEX) – On 11 September 2007, the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) of the Ivorian police summoned five journalists of two pro-opposition daily newspapers for allegedly publishing stories they claimed cast a slur on the reputation of President Laurent Gbagbo. Two of the journalists, Coulibaly Seydou and Alexis Noume, are editors of “Le Jour Plus”. The […]
IFJ condemns ransacking of private newspaper by students
(IFJ/IFEX) – The following is a 30 August 2007 IFJ media release: IFJ Condemns Ransacking of Private Newspaper by Students in Côte d?Ivoire The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) today condemned the recent attack on a newspaper in Côte d’Ivoire by dozens of young people in protest against the publication of an article linking a […]
IFJ calls on government to take urgent action after four media groups robbed
(IFJ/IFEX) – The following is a 10 July 2007 IFJ media release IFJ Calls on Côte d’Ivoire Government to Take Urgent Actions after 4 Media Groups Robbed The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) today urged the government of Côte d’Ivoire to take urgent actions to put an end to newsroom robberies after four media companies […]
Armed men ransack newspaper’s offices
(MFWA/IFEX) – On 5 May 2007, armed men broke into the offices of the pro-government daily “Le Matin” and made off with cash and various documents. They also stole some of the paper’s equipment. An MFWA correspondent reported that the men stole 3.5 million FCFA (approx. US$7,270), a television set, four cameras, and several dictaphones. […]
RSF, family and support committees continue to press for truth three years after journalist’s disappearance in Abidjan
(RSF/IFEX) – On the third anniversary of the abduction and disappearance of French-Canadian journalist Guy-André Kieffer in Abidjan, a news conference about the case was held on 13 April 2007 at the French national assembly by Reporters Without Borders, Kieffer’s wife, Osange Silou-Kieffer, his brother, Bernard Kieffer, the president of “Truth for Guy-André Kieffer” support […]
Stories critical of president trigger charges against four journalists
(CPJ/IFEX) – The following is a 28 February 2007 CPJ press release: IVORY COAST: Stories critical of president trigger charges New York, February 28, 2007 – Stories critical of President Laurent Gbagbo led authorities this week to charge four journalists working for two private newspapers in the commercial capital, Abidjan, with offending the head of […]
Newspaper journalist held for five days by Abidjan gendarmes
(RSF/IFEX) – Reporters Without Borders has called on the Ivorian authorities to withdraw all charges against journalist Claude Dassé of the privately-owned daily “Soir Info”, after he was held for five days at Abidjan investigative police headquarters on a contempt of court charge brought by the state prosecutor. “Blatant abuse of authority is not the […]
President seizes control of state media outlets
(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 […]