(RSF/IFEX) – On 15 December 2004, the day of the announced implementation of sanctions against certain individuals involved in Côte d’Ivoire’s ongoing crisis, RSF wrote to United Nations (UN) Secretary-General Kofi Annan, asking him to intercede in an attempt to restore normality at state broadcaster RadioTélévision Ivoirienne (RTI). “RTI was the target of a takeover […]
(RSF/IFEX) – On 15 December 2004, the day of the announced implementation of sanctions against certain individuals involved in Côte d’Ivoire’s ongoing crisis, RSF wrote to United Nations (UN) Secretary-General Kofi Annan, asking him to intercede in an attempt to restore normality at state broadcaster RadioTélévision Ivoirienne (RTI).
“RTI was the target of a takeover by force on the morning of 4 November, carried out by armed men and supported by militiamen under the orders of the President’s Office,” the organisation said. “Jean-Paul Dahily was summarily installed as the new director-general.”
The state broadcaster has since aired lies and misinformation on several occasions, called for crimes to be committed and given instructions for street violence, RSF added.
“We have monitored radio and television broadcasts and found that, while the streets of Abidjan were prey to looting and violence, RTI and Radio Côte d’Ivoire were enthusiastically relaying false information and rumours that encouraged or set off violence,” the organisation said. “By means of their live broadcasts, these stations organised the insurrection and egged on rioters.”
The persons who were placed in charge of RTI on 4 November remain in place, and RTI’s legitimate director-general, Kébé Yacouba, is no longer able to do his job, RSF said. “Even if the Ivorian authorities pay no heed to our requests and protests, state institutions cannot be allowed to continue functioning in an arbitrary manner, but RTI still does. And this situation has not changed for more than a month.”
Reached by RSF on 14 December, Yacouba said he had not been contacted recently by the Ivorian authorities and he did not know what the government’s next move would be.
