Ivory Coast detains three journalists over sources
New York, July 15, 2010—The Committee to Protect Journalists is alarmed by the arrest of three journalists in Ivory Coast who have been detained since Tuesday, when they refused to disclose sources for an investigative report detailing the results of a government probe into corruption in the coffee and cocoa export trade, according to local journalists…
50 years on, Francophone Africa strives for media freedom
CPJ has joined with African press freedom groups to urge African leaders to end repression of the media as they celebrate 50 years since the end of colonial rule. We will publish a series of blogs this week by African journalists reflecting on the checkered history of press freedom over that period.This year is the 50th anniversary of…
CPJ, African groups call for press freedom commitment
Your Excellencies: As you gather in Paris for festivities that celebrate your nations’ 50 years of independence, we, the undersigned African press freedom advocates petition for your public commitment to a free, vibrant, and self-sustaining press as a cornerstone of the development of francophone Africa in the next five decades.
Ivory Coast’s suspension of France 24 is politicized
New York, February 24, 2010—The Committee to Protect Journalists is concerned about politically motivated censorship in Ivory Coast after authorities banned international French broadcaster France 24 on Monday on bogus allegations of unprofessionalism over coverage of political unrest in the West African nation.
Attacks on the Press 2009: Africa Developments
ATTACKS ON THE PRESS: 2009 • Main Index AFRICA Regional Analysis: • In African hot spots, journalists forced into exile Country Summaries • DRC • Ethiopia • Gambia • Madagascar • Niger • Nigeria • Somalia • Uganda • Zambia • Zimbabwe • Other developments BOTSWANA A media law was enacted in January requiring government…
Ivorian editors fined on charges of offending Gbagbo
On March 31, 2009, in the commercial city of Abidjan, Judge Aissata Koné convicted Op-Ed Editor Nanankoua Gnamenteh and Managing Editor Eddy Péhé of private weekly Le Repère of charges of “offending the head of state” over an article in early March that was critical of President Laurent Gbagbo, according to local media reports.
Ivorian editor abruptly jailed in libel case
New York, March 20, 2009–Ivorian authorities on Thursday abruptly jailed a journalist who was scheduled to appear in court next week on libel charges related to a column critical of the government, according to local journalists and press reports. The imprisonment appeared to violate the 2004 Ivorian press law, which decriminalized press offenses and banned pretrial…
Attacks on the Press in 2008: Africa Developments
Angola | Burundi Central African Republic| Chad | Gabon| Gambia | Ghana | Guinea | Ivory Coast | Lesotho | Nigeria | Republic of Congo| Sierra Leone | South Africa | Togo ANGOLA • Three journalists for national state broadcaster Rádio Nacional de Angola were suspended indefinitely in October after questioning President José dos Santos’…
Government ban of RFI lifted after 3 months
UPDATE May 6, 2008 Original alert: February 5, 2008Radio France InternationaleCENSOREDIvory 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…
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 country, according to news reports and local sources. In a telephone interview with CPJ, Frank Kouassi, the…