Gbagbo Supporters Mute Media in Ivory Coast

Michael Hedges November 9, 2004

With French and United Nations troops attempting to prevent Ivory Coast from slipping back into civil war several media outlets critical of President Laurent Gbagbo were silenced. Go To Follow Up & Comments

Young Patriots Militia
photo: Le Patriote

Ivory Coast newspapers were attacked (November 4) by an armed group believed to be the “Young Patriots,” a militia loyal to President Gbagbo’s Ivorian Popular Front (FPI) party. According to Agence France Presse (AFP), radio transmitters used by Radio France International (RFI), the BBC and Africa No. 1 were sabotaged earlier that morning by unidentified persons who removed FM modulation cards.

The Gbabgo government controls only the southern half of Ivory Coast after a cease-fire line was established by the United Nations in 2003. Terms of reconciliation have strained relations between President Gbabgo and international peace-keepers and the cease-fire, effectively broken by military action, is in doubt. The Ivorian government has claimed, as recently as this week (November 8), that the UN and the French government, in particular, intend to destabilize the former French colony.

In June the Ivorian government sought to prevent the UN from launching an FM radio station.

The attacks were carried out on four newspapers, Le Patriote, 24 Heures, Le Nouveau Réveil and Le Libéral Nouveau. Equipment and documents were destroyed and premises set afire. No injuries to personnel were reported. The same day, the Ivorian government ordered state-owned press distributor Edipresse withdraw several opposition newspapers, including those ransacked.

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Off Again: Ivory Coast Suspends RFI Broadcasts - July 18, 2005

Radio France International (RFI) FM broadcasts in the Ivory Coast capital Abidjan were suspended (July 15) by the Ivory Coast broadcast regulator over government complaints about news reports.

As Ivory Coast slides closer to the return of civil war the government has continues to strike at media viewed as critical. RFI’s FM broadcasts are highly regarded for independence among the French-speaking population. Relations between Ivory Coast and France have been frosty since the 2002 attempted coup d’etat against Ivorian president Laurent Gbagbo.

“RFI programs…are suspended until further notice,” said National Council for Audiovisual Communication (CNCA) president Diegou Jerome Bailly, quoted by Reuters.

RFI closed its regional office in Abidjan after correspondent Jean Helene was murdered by a police officer in October 2003.

“Our wish is that all press organizations, including RFI, can carry on their activities anywhere in the world,” said French Foreign Affairs Ministry spokesperson Jean-Baptiste Mattéi.

The complaints relate to news reports about the killing of an Ivorian army officer as he left the residence of the French ambassador and a United Nations report critical of Ivorian authorities.

The CRNA is demanding retractions and a fine of $16,000.(jmh)