World
5 Newspapers Suspended in Ivory Coast
ABIDJAN, Ivory Coast (AP) — Five Ivory Coast newspapers whose publications have been temporarily suspended are denouncing the measure.
Most of the newspapers were suspended for mocking President Alassane Ouattara or referring to him as a dictator. One was targeted for discussing the safety of bush meat, which the government banned in the wake of an Ebola outbreak. The National Press Council, acting on a government complaint, banned the papers for several issues.
Ouattara came to power in 2011 after deadly fighting following former President Laurent Gbagbo’s refusal to step down. Three of the newspapers support Gbagbo.
On Thursday, editors of the papers called the suspensions, which began this week, abusive.
Ivory Coast has made significant strides in press freedom recently, according to Reporters Without Borders, but it still regularly suspends opposition newspapers.
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