Sanogo Aboubakar and Kangbé Yayoro Charles Lopez, journalists with pro- Ouattara Television Notre Patrie(TVN) in Bouake, being held for alleged rebel activities were on the day of their arrests ( January 28, 2011 ) tortured by security forces loyal to Laurent Gbagbo, according to their lawyers.
The Media Foundation for West Africa (MFWA)’s correspondent reported that the lawyers of journalists said their clients have been badly tortured to the extent that when they visited them on February1, at the police headquaters they could not immediately recognize them.
Brahima Coulibaly, lead counsel said that: “One had a swollen eye as a result of being smashed in the face with a butt of a gun and they were burnt with cigarettes,”
The correspondent said Sanogo and Kangbé, who are being investigated for allegedly “compromising state security”, were picked up at the Airbase of the Liaison Transport Air Group in Abidjan after arriving from Bouake in a U.N. flight to interview Alhassane Ouattara, the internationally recognized president of the country.
MFWA adds its voice to the call for the immediate and unconditional release of the two journalists.