SECTOR 1

1.5 Print publications are not required to obtain permission to publish from state authorities.
In order to create an editorial publication in Côte d’Ivoire, the only requirement is
to make a declaration at the office of the State Prosecutor. The declaration for the
establishment of a newspaper costs a sum of 11.000 FCFA (USD18) at the office.
According to panellists, receipt are not issued upon payment.
The panellists felt, however, that the conditions of this declaration are problematic.
In effect, it requires already having created a publishing company with a minimum
capital of 5 million FCFA (USD8.547,00) before commencing with the steps
required by the office responsible for providing authorisation for publication. It
can happen that the office refuses, but it is obligated to justify the rejection in
order to allow the applicant to correct and resubmit his/her request.
According to panellists, conditions for publication were not described very well
in the law of 1991 governing the media and audio-visual communication in Côte
d’Ivoire. During the revision of this law, media professionals themselves decided to
toughen the conditions for creating a newspaper. One panellist stated that shortly
before each, certain journalists put several new publications on the market. But
with the current dispensation, these practices are becoming more common on
the Internet with the creation of online media houses.

Scores:
Individual scores:
1

Country does not meet indicator

2

Country meets only a few aspects of indicator

3

Country meets some aspects of indicator

4

Country meets most aspects of indicator

5

Country meets all aspects of the indicator

Average score:

4.8 (2012 = 5.0, 2009 = 5.0)

AFRICAN MEDIA BAROMETER Côte d’Ivoire 2016

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