Africa

Cote d'Ivoire

{This graph represents scores that have been modified by CIMA so that higher scores indicate a better media situation. It is intended to show trends over time; each index measures significantly different factors of press freedom. To see an explanation for how this graph was created, click here.}
 

IREX Description:

Côte d'Ivoire's social and political climate remained calm in 2009. However, a delay in the elections originally planned for October 16, 2009 raised doubts over the sincerity of political will to resolve the crisis, and the media reflected this uncertainty.

Despite the effects of the turmoil, Côte d'Ivoire's fundamental law upholding the freedom of speech, the laws on print and broadcast media adopted in 2004 are considered fairly strong. Adding to those strengths in the past year, various components of the media industry succeeded in reorganizing. The long-awaited Press Support and Development Fund became operational, as did the Joint Press and Media Identity Card Commission.

However, to date, only the radio sector has succeeded in making full use of Côte d'Ivoire's press freedom. The government has granted 100 or so licenses to radio stations, and community radio station in particular. In the five years since the radio and television media law passed, not one private television channel has gone on the air, indicating that the country lags behind some others in the subregion. However, television channels inspired by Ivoirians are making their appearance on the Internet. Furthermore, competition between Internet service providers and mobile telephone operators enabled Ivoirians to obtains and use new technologies at attractive prices.

A striking indication of Côte d'Ivoire's media's future is the proliferation of cybercafés in larger towns and all parts of Abidjan, and the number and zeal of cybercafé patrons. The popularity of the Internet, which has become an essential source of information, is proving to be formidable competition for the print media. Internet users pay XOF 200 (about $0.40) for an hour of Internet access—less than the price of a daily newspaper.

Read more on IREX’s site…

Freedom House Description:

• Although the constitution provides for freedom of the press, since the onset of civil conflict in 2002, the government has restricted media freedom in the name of patriotism and national unity. Even after the 2007 Ouagadougou Political Agreement (OPA) between the government and the rebel New Forces (FN), national reconciliation is incomplete, elections scheduled for November 2008 had to be postponed, and the government continues to harass, intimidate, and jail journalists reporting on sensitive topics.
• In August, a new law criminalized racism, xenophobia, and tribalism in the media and elsewhere, punishable by up to 20 years in prison. While the measure would help to protect victims of hate crimes, the imprecision with which it was written raised the possibility that it could jeopardize freedom of expression.

Read more on Freedom House’s site…

Reporters Without Borders Description:

Cote d’Ivoire, which has a diverse press, albeit of uneven quality and which in December 2004 adopted a law decriminalizing press offences, would seem to be a star pupil, but paradoxically it is the country which has seen two of the darkest and most tragic cases involving the press on the African continent.

Elsewhere, so long as they do not raise taboo subjects such as oil or the trade in cocoa, in which Cote d’Ivoire is the world’s leading exporter and which Guy-André Kieffer was investigating, Ivorian journalists can express themselves quite freely in a diversified press, but with limited circulation. Attacks on newspaper offices by vandals are however a regular occurrence and the media still suffer the consequences of the country’s fragile political situation, being banned from taking photos without permission of the rebels in the northern half of the country or of the government in the southern half.

Read more on RSF’s site…

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