Media infrastructure in Cote d’Ivoire damaged amid political crisis
West Africa media expert Kwame Karikari stresses that rebuilding free media must be priority of the Ivorian government, no matter the leader
The political battle between Cote d’Ivoire’s incumbent president Laurent Gbagbo and Alassaine Ouattara, the internationally recognised winner of November’s elections, will soon come to a close, says Kwame Karikari, executive director of the Media Foundation of West Africa in an interview with IMS. His prediction of an end to the armed conflict means that a new Ivorian government will have to rebuild the media infrastructure destroyed by the conflict.
In November 2010, Alassaine Ouattara won international recognition as the formally elected leader of Cote d’Ivoire but Laurent Gbagbo refused to step down from the presidency which he has held since 2000. What began as an electoral dispute has rapidly deteriorated into civil war, with media organisations now caught in the crossfire.
– There have been attacks on the media perpetrated by the supporters of the two main political figures. They have attacked journalists, vendors that are selling newspapers, the trucks of companies that distribute newspapers and they seize and destroy the newspapers as well.
The most prominent source of news in Cote d’Ivoire, the state-controlled Radiodiffusion Television Ivoirienne (RTI), has been down for the last few days due to attacks from pro-Ouattara forces and newspapers supporting the opposition were sacked by pro-Gbagbo militias. Journalists and civilians alike have had to cope with the growing violence exercised by the armed forces of the opposing sides and media coverage has suffered as a result.
– Journalists and the media have been concerned about their personal security and atmosphere that does not help them do their work as journalist. They cannot go out to cover anything, they cannot go out to cover the crisis because it is not safe.
Additionally, private radio stations are not permitted to broadcast news and current affairs. Thus, there are very few outlets for Ivorians to now receive accurate or neutral information about domestic affairs; whoever assumes control of the government, must work to rebuild the media in three important ways said Kwame Karikari
– First, we must see how to reform those laws which are not good for the media. Second, we must see how the state broadcasting system can be reformed to be more open than state controlled. Third, we need to see what can be done to encourage people to invest in independent, non-partisan press.”
Karikari’s Media Foundation for West Africa has been working with IMS to promote media development in Cote d’Ivoire and other African countries. Along with providing a safe haven for Ivorian journalists, the partnership work promotes investigative journalism and a professional network connecting West African journalists with media partners around the world.
