CONTENTS | ANB-BIA HOMEPAGE | WEEKLY NEWS
by Lucile Boya, CRP, Congo-Bra., August 1998
THEME = MEDIA
At the end of the civil war, the new powers-that-be appealed to
journalists
who had fled from Brazzaville, to come back and take up their posts again.
Some, fearing for their lives, hesitated, while others who did come back are keeping a low
profile.
The war is over but the Congolese media scene bears many resemblances to what's happening in the world of politics - the strongest takes all! Denis Sassou's Democratic and Patriotic Forces' (FDP) victory over Pascal Lissouba's supporters, furthered the victors' influence. Senior posts in both national radio and national TV services are presently occupied by FDP journalists. They make it quite clear that "we won the war". On the contrary, many journalists who supported former President Lissouba, remain hidden in their villages or conceal themselves among the populations of Pointe-Noire and Dolisie. Others have gone into exile.
In Congo-Brazza, each side has "its" journalists. In 1992, when Sassou Nguesso was defeated at the elections, the journalists who supported him, saw themselves marginalised by the state-run media which was given over to Lissouba's supporters. For five years, Lissouba's adherents reigned supreme - over the radio and TV airwaves (no question of sharing broadcasting time with their opponents), and in the Congolese Information Service where, following their predecessors' footsteps, they shone in the art of government propaganda.
Nowadays all is changed. Since national broadcasting resumed in January 1998, many journalists from Lissouba's regime have shown themselves reluctant to return to Brazzaville. So what's happening to them? They're keeping a low profile in their own villages; they're without salary; they're poverty-stricken having lost everything during the war; they're concerned about their own safety. A journalist puts it this way: "We live in a country where friends have suddenly become enemies".
Congo-Brazza's new authorities claim to be more democratic then their predecessors. They extol openness, peace and reconciliation. And so, there's been a cautious return of "big fish" from the former regime. Take for example a journalist who was a senior official in Lissouba's regime. He's asked to remain anonymous but doesn't hide what he thinks: "I came back to Brazzaville eight months after the war. I was afraid but those now in charge guaranteed my safety. So I returned. I wasn't stupid enough to come home too quickly. I wanted to make certain all was safe in town".
In April 1998, the Minister of Communications, François Ibovi, went to Pointe-Noire and reassured this particular journalist. Commenting on the visit, the journalist said: "While Mr Ibovi was in Pointe-Noire, he asked other journalists to start work again in Brazzaville, promising there wouldn't be any witch-hunt. The Director of Television Services, Mr Akiaye Akoli, then sent for me".
Are these gradual returns welcomed by the new media authorities? A journalist who supported Lissouba's regime, puts it this way: "Personally, I was warmly welcomed. I was even asked by the TV administrative supervisors to suggest a plan of action for them. I used to hold a senior position but it's going to be extremely difficult for me to get this function back again even if I do work in the editorial office".
A number of those who have gone back to work have been "put into cold storage". This happened to Jean-Claude Kakou, the best TV newscaster. On the other hand it must be pointed out that two ladies, Solange Samba Royo and Lucienne Tsoumou, are once again newscasters for the 8.P.M. news. However, radio broadcasters such as Edmond Philippe Gali (Lissouba's Press Director) and Touadikisaa Massanga (a programme presenter) remain high and dry. They're not the only ones, as others in senior media positions under Lissouba are still conspicuous by their absence.
Joachim Mbanza, is editor-in-chief of the Catholic weekly La Semaine Africaine". He says: "Journalists working for state-run publications are completely under the authorities' thumbs. They only obey their masters' voice. So there's no freedom of expression.
END
CONTENTS | ANB-BIA HOMEPAGE | WEEKLY NEWS
PeaceLink 1998 - Reproduction authorised, with usual acknowledgement