Media Reform: Linas-Marcoussis Agreement
Implementations
Media Reform – 2003
Under the Linas-Marcoussis Agreement, the transitional powersharing government was required to reform media regulation in order to ensure the neutrality of state media, eliminate xenophobia in the media, and establish the financial independence of the press. The Agreement stipulated that this was to be completed within a year. In addition, the government was required to restore the free broadcast of international radio and television.
BBC, Radio France Internationale, and Radio Nostalgie broadcasts all resumed by the end of February.[1] The UN Mission in Cote d’Ivoire (MINUCI) reported that the government authorized a media watchdog to sanction media hate speech. MINUCI’s report recommended a new press law to eliminate the financial dependence of much of the media on political parties. However, it does not appear the law was passed in 2003.
[1] “Report of the Secretary-General on Cote d’Ivoire.” United Nations (S/2003/374), March 26, 2003.
Media Reform – 2004
Laws regulating the media and establishing its financial independence were not passed this year. A UN Operation in Cote d’Ivoire report noted that “most Ivorian media…remain under the direct control of political parties.”[1]
[1] “First report of the Secretary-General on the United Nations Operation in Cote d’Ivoire,” United Nations (S/2004/443), June 2, 2004.
Media Reform – 2005
The parties signed the Pretoria Agreement in April, agreeing to restructure the governance of Ivorian Radio and Television.