BBC Radio and Radio France International (RFI) are now off air in Ivory Coast. The government of Laurent Gbagbo denies taking action against the radio stations, but in the past the government has blocked both these stations. Pro- and anti-government media have complained of threats, harassment and attacks.
Nine independent and anti-government newspapers have suspended publication following harassment from President Laurent Gbagbo supporters. The protesting newspapers also say they are regularly fined by the media regulator. Meanwhile, supporters of Gbagbo’s rival, Alassane Ouattara, attacked the main transmission centre of Radio-Télévision Ivoirienne (RTI), the state-owned broadcaster.
Ivorian police have issued summonses for questioning to several newspaper editors, local journalists report. The summons were sent to editors seen to be favourable towards former presidential candidate Alassane Ouattara. The police accused the newspapers of “calling the army to mutiny, inciting the public not to recognize the authorities, and inciting hatred and violence”.
Two reporters have received death threats from people believed to be members of pro-Gbago militias, while one was threatened for being pro-Gbago. Madeleine Tanou and Kesy B. Jacobs were approached on separate occasions, accused of being critical of the Gbago government and threatened with being skinned alive. Assomon Anoh, meanwhile, was threatened by members of an anti-Gbago militia for synchronizing his station’s programme with that of Gbagbo controlled state-owned Ivorian Broadcasting Corporation (RTI).