Cote d’Ivoire UPDATE: Regulatory body rejects appeal, maintains sanctions against newspaper

The statutory press regulator of Cote d’Ivoire, Conseil National de Presse (CNP), has thrown out an appeal filed by Seydou Coulibaly, editor of the privately-owned Le Jour Plus newspaper.

 The Editor had filed the appeal to lift sanctions imposed on the newspaper and one of its journalists, Abou Traoré.

 According to the MFWA’s monitor in the country, the appeal filed by the newspaper’s editor, Seydou Coulibaly, was to request the Conseil National de Presse (CNP) to lift sanctions it imposed on the newspaper and one journalist, Abou Traoré, on September 13, 2013.

 The Conseil National de Presse (CNP) suspended the journalist on September 13, 2013 for a period of three months for plagiarism while publishers of Le Jour Plus, SAEI Press House, were also fined an amount of One Million Francs (about US$2000).

 On October 10 when the appeal was heard, the regulator rejected the appeal explaining that “Coulibaly has no jurisdiction to act on behalf of the implicated journalist and SAEI Press House.”

 The MFWA appeals to the Conseil National de Presse (CNP) to reconsider its decision and drop the sanctions. We also urge journalists in Cote d’Ivoire to uphold and adhere to the code of ethics of the profession.

For more information please contact

Kwame Karikari (Prof)
Executive Director
MFWA
Accra
Tel: 233-0302-24 24 70
Fax: 233-0302-22 10 84

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