The three journalists, all working for the independent bi-weekly newspaper Jeune Democrate (The Young Democrat), were sentenced on February 21, 1991 to 18 months in prison and each fined 1 million CFA (US$2,800). They were charged with “insulting the head of state” and “appealing to the army to revolt” in connection with the publication of two articles in the February 11 issue of the newspaper. De Lijes was detained on February 11 and Dassohiri and Kore on February 12.