Ivory Coast: Five journalists questioned, one threatened by official
| Publisher | Committee to Protect Journalists |
| Publication Date | 5 October 2007 |
| Cite as | Committee to Protect Journalists, Ivory Coast: Five journalists questioned, one threatened by official, 5 October 2007, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/48243c59c.html [accessed 31 May 2023] |
| Disclaimer | This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States. |
September 11, 2007
Posted October 5, 2007
Nando Dapa, Le Rebond
HARASSED, THREATENED
Laure Gozo, Le Rebond
Assouan N'Gueeta, Le Rebond
Coulibaly Seydou, Le Jour Plus
Alexis Noumé, Le Jour Plus
HARASSED
Separate stories about the government led police in the capital, Abidjan, to question five journalists of the pro-opposition dailies Le Jour Plus and Le Rebond, pressing them to reveal their sources for more than 10 hours at a time over three days. One of the journalists was threatened with death by a ruling party MP, according to local media reports.
According to the same sources, ruling party MP William Attedi barged into the police station and threatened to "gun down" editor Nando Dapa of the daily Le Rebond in the presence of the journalists and the police commissioner. The threats were linked to a September 3 story listing 38 officials of the ruling FPI party, including Attedi and President Laurent Gbagbo, as alleged billionaires, Dapa told CPJ. Attedi subsequently sued Le Rebond for defamation.
Editor Seydou and reporter Noumé of Le Jour Plus were also questioned about a September 8 story alleging corruption by Gbagbo, according to the state-run daily Fraternité-Matin. The journalists were charged with defaming the head of state, Le Jour Plus editor Frederick Koffi told CPJ.
