The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) today vigorously condemned the attack of the premises of a media group publishing two newspapers and a weekly in Côte d’Ivoire.
« We denounce this serious attack against freedom of expression in Côte d’Ivoire. Authorities must take measures for the security and protection of journalists and the media. The guarantee of press freedom constitutes in the present situation of Côte d’Ivoire a pillar for the expression of opinions and trends that the country needs to achieve national reconciliation, » said Gabriel Baglo, Director IFJ Africa Office.
According to statements of the media group to AFP press agency, last Saturday night, around midnight, the headquarters of Cyclone media group, publisher of Le Temps newspaper and two other newspapers, was attacked by six persons in plainclothes, who manhandled the gatekeeper and burnt a room at the ground floor.
Assailants attempted without success to put fire on two other officers. According to other sources, they took away hardware materials and put fire to the Director General’s office.
The Cyclone communication agency is the media group which publishes the weekly Prestige Mag, the daily LG Info and the daily Le Temps which is politically close to former President Laurent Gbagbo. Sources from the media group indicated that since the post-electoral crisis, newsrooms of these newspapers left the building for security reasons, opting to work underground with non fixed newsrooms.
«Authorities must seriously investigate in order to arrest and punish the culprit, » Baglo added.
For more information, please contact IFJ on +221- 33 867 95 87
The IFJ represents more than 600.000 journalists in 134 countries