In Cote d’Ivoire, religious, traditional healers, heads of NGOs and associations, are no more allowed to be featured on TV and radio shows, public or private. Medias now have to create a specific communication space where these entities will broadcast their adverts or promotional films. However, prior to broadcasting, they will be subjected to a “strict control”.

These measures were defined by the Council of Ministers which was held on February 17, 2016. The decision to implement these arose after government observed various violations in Medias imputable to religious, traditional healers and heads of civil society organizations.

Government’s spokesperson Bruno Nabagné Koné affirmed that these people or groups of people used Medias “to give sermons, and in some cases were behind misleading advertising and propaganda, which threaten the stability of the country”. This is why the government has decided to restrict their access to audiovisual Medias.

Therefore, it now befalls the whole press body to strictly respect the regulation and laws in place regarding access to both public and private Medias. “Media institutions will from now request from the user administrative documentation proving his legal existence as well as his ability to act. Integrate and establish a differentiation between the types of information. Identify the type of service involved and verify its conformity with laws and regulation in place,” said government’s spokesperson.