Government ban of RFI lifted after 3 months

Ivory Coast’s National Broadcasting Council lifted a ban in place since February 1 on the FM broadcasts of France-based Radio France Internationale (RFI), through a public statement released to the media. The ruling was made as a result of the arrival of a permanent correspondent for the station, Norbert Navarro, in the commercial capital of Abidjan, the statement said.

The council had accused RFI of unethical and biased coverage because there had not been a permanent correspondent from the station based in Ivory Coast. Authorities had previously fined and banned RFI for 10 months in 2005 over disputed reports.