The Conseil National de la Presse (CNP) on February 10, 2014, suspended the Le Monde d’ Abidjannewspaper for three months.
According to MFWA’s correspondent, a statement issued on February 10, by the CNP accused the newspaper of “publishing insults to an extreme gravity” against the Ivorian President Alassane Ouattara, in its January 29, issue.
The suspension of the Le Monde d’ Abidjan newspaper brings to five, the number of newspapers the CNP hassanctioned this year.
Meanwhile, the CNP has rejected an appeal by two of four journalists it suspended last month.
Alafé Wakili, manager of the daily L’Intelligent d’ Abidjan newspaper and Traoré Moussa, president of the National Union of Journalists were on January 20, suspended for six months and their professional identity cards withdrawn.
The two journalists were accused of “attempted bribery” of Assalé Tiémoko, who is the manager of the satirical newspaper L’Eléphant déchaîné, for him to abandon the idea of publishing a compromising article on the Minister of Finance and Economic Planning, Madam Kaba Nialé.
The MFWA reiterates its call on the CNP to reconsider its decision as these severe sanctions may lead to self-censorship and cow the media.
We also urge the Ivorian media to be more professional in their work.
For more information please contact:
Sulemana Braimah
Executive Director
MFWA
Accra
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