Your Excellency:
The Committee to Protect Journalists is deeply troubled that Radio France Internationale’s (RFI) FM broadcasts in Djibouti have been cut since January 14.
According to RFI and French media reports, Djiboutian authorities silenced the broadcaster because of its report on an ongoing French legal inquiry into the 1995 death in Djibouti of Bernard Borrel, a French judge. RFI reported on January 12 that a French court had summoned the head of the Djiboutian secret services, Hassan Saïd, as a witness in the inquiry. An earlier French inquiry conducted in Djibouti had concluded that Borrel committed suicide.
CPJ condemns the censorship of a media organization for reporting on matters of public concern. As an organization of journalists dedicated to defending the rights of our colleagues worldwide, we call on Your Excellency to ensure that RFI can begin broadcasting again immediately, and that media in Djibouti can report the news freely without fear of reprisal.
Thank you for your attention to this important matter. We await your response.
Sincerely,
Ann Cooper
Executive Director