Demonstration held at Chocolate Exhibition in Paris draws attention to case of missing journalist Guy-André Kieffer
(RSF/IFEX) – The following is a 28 October 2006 RSF press release: Demonstration at Chocolate Exhibition in Paris about journalist missing in Abidjan Around 30 activists from Reporters Without Borders and the “Truth for Guy-André Kieffer” committee staged a protest at Côte d’Ivoire’s stand at the Chocolate Exhibition in Paris on 28 October 2006 to […]
Editor, journalist arrested, detained and summarily tried but spared punishment in defamation case
(MFWA/IFEX) – On 18 September 2006, a magistrate court in Plateau, a suburb of Abidjan, fined “Le Jour Plus”, a pro-opposition daily newspaper, 15,000,000 CFA Francs (approx. US$29,000) for allegedly defaming President Laurent Gbagbo and his wife, Simone Gbagbo. According to MFWA-Cote d’Ivoire sources, Coulibaly Seydou, the editor-in-chief, and Eduardo Gonto, political correspondent of the […]
Court imposes heavy fine on three journalists for insulting president
(RSF/IFEX) – On 18 September 2006, Coulibaly Seydou, the managing editor of the privately-owned daily “Le Jour Plus”, Frédéric Koffi, its editor, and Edouard Gonto, one of its journalists, were jointly fined a total of 15 million CFA francs (22,867 euros) by an Abidjan court for “contempt of the head of state” in an article […]
Managing editor, journalist and editor charged with “offence against the head of state”
(RSF/IFEX) – Reporters Without Borders urged the Ivorian justice system to accept that journalist Edouard Gonto and managing editor Coulibaly Seydou of the privately-owned daily “Le Jour Plus” have been treated unfairly and should be acquitted. The two journalists, who were arrested on 12 September 2006, were released on the evening of 13 September after […]
Two journalists arrested for linking president’s wife to toxic waste dumped in Abidjan
(RSF/IFEX) – Reporters Without Borders has voiced concern at the arrest of Coulibaly Seydou, the managing editor of the privately-owned daily “Le Jour Plus”, and Edouard Gonto, one of his journalists, because of an article claiming the president’s wife, Simone Gbagbo, was partly responsible for the dumping of toxic waste in Abidjan. “This is a […]
Ruling party activists assault journalists
(MFWA/IFEX) – On 29 August 2006, a group of activists of the ruling party, Ivorian Popular Front (FPI), heckled and rained insults on journalists who were covering a press conference for asking “wrong questions”. According to a MFWA-Cote d’ Ivoire source, the press conference had been called to condemn an alleged assault on Diabate Beh, […]
CORRECTION: Ban on FM broadcasting by RFI lifted after 10 months
(RSF/IFEX) – The following is an RSF correction: The National Council for Broadcast Communication (CNCA) gave its permission on 12 May for French public broadcaster Radio France Internationale (RFI) to resume broadcasting in Côte d’Ivoire on FM frequencies. In return, RFI undertook to quickly strengthen its regional coverage, pay the CNCA 9 million CFA francs […]
Ban on FM broadcasting by RFI lifted after 10 months
(RSF/IFEX) – The National Council for Broadcast Communication (CNCA) gave its permission on 12 May 2006 for French public broadcaster Radio France Internationale (RFI) to resume broadcasting in Côte d’Ivoire on FM frequencies. In return, RFI undertook to quickly appoint a permanent Abidjan correspondent, pay the CNCA 9 million CFA francs (14,000 euros) and “adhere […]
France jails Ivoirian army officer over disappeared journalist
(CPJ/IFEX) – The following is a 1 February 2006 CPJ press release: France jails Ivoirian army officer over disappeared journalist New York, February 1, 2006 – French authorities have jailed an Ivoirian army officer in connection with the 2004 disappearance in Ivory Coast of journalist Guy-André Kieffer, according to Kieffer’s wife and Agence France-Presse. Osange […]
A week of terror for the press as Young Patriots impose their law
(RSF/IFEX) – The following is a 24 January 2006 RSF press release: Reporters Without Borders is outraged at the way journalists were treated when demonstrators claiming to support President Laurent Gbagbo seized control of the streets of Abidjan from 16 to 19 January 2006. In a grim week for press freedom, at least four journalists […]
Two journalists threatened, narrowly escape mob violence
(MFWA/IFEX) – On 14 January 2006, Frank Konate, reporter, and Basile Zoma, cameraman, both of the opposition daily newspaper “24 Heures”, were nearly burnt alive by a group of demonstrating Young Patriots. The journalists were on their way to cover a meeting of the International Task Force created by the United Nations to implement its […]
Young Patriots end siege of state broadcaster
(RSF/IFEX) – The siege of the state broadcaster RadioTélévision Ivoirienne (RTI) by several hundred Young Patriots was lifted on the evening of 19 January 2006 and normal programming resumed on 20 January, Reporters Without Borders has learned. Most employees were able to return to their posts and talks are under way to “identify the lessons […]
Pro-government youth militia seize state broadcasting stations in Abidjan and Daloa
(CPJ/IFEX) – The following is an 18 January 2006 CPJ press release: In Ivory Coast, youth militia seize state broadcaster New York, January 18, 2006 – Hundreds of members of the radical pro-government Young Patriots militia seized control of the state television and radio broadcaster Radiodiffusion Télévision Ivoirienne (RTI) today, broadcasting calls for protests against […]
Journalists receive death threats; pro-opposition daily suspends publication
(MFWA/IFEX) – Aboueu Tiô, a correspondent for the daily “Le Nouveau Réveil”, has been receiving death threats since October 20, 2005 in Adzopé, about 50 km east of Abidjan. “Le Nouveau Réveil” newspaper is close to the PDCI-RDA party, now in opposition. Tiô also received an anonymous telephone call on the night of October 25, […]
Family of Guy-André Kieffer appeals to Ivorian people for information on missing journalist
(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 […]
Army head threatens closure of newspapers
(CPJ/IFEX) – The following is a 25 August 2005 CPJ press release: IVORY COAST: Army head threatens closure of newspapers New York, August 25, 2005 – The Committee to Protect Journalists is concerned by a threat by the head of Ivory Coast’s armed forces to ban newspapers that fail to work “in the interests of […]