Nana Rosine Ngangoue in Brazzaville
Private newspapers and magazines have disappeared from newsstands and bookstores in Congo following a decree banning their publication. The decree also ordered the seizure of all copies of the prohibited papers. It was issued last week by the government, which accused media houses of violating a new press law passed on July 2.
The law requires all non-governmental media and publishing houses to obtain a commercial licence, and includes provisions inherited from a previous law but hardly enforced in the past, such as the requirement that media houses submit to the attorney general’s office a declaration including the objectives of each newspaper or magazine, its title, where and how often it is published, its price and the name and address of its publisher.
Recently Minister of Communication and Democratic Culture Albertine Lipou-Massala gave media houses 10 days to comply with the new law. She charged that some newspaper owners had given false information in previous declarations, while others had neglected to provide the names of their publishers and the address of their headquarters.
She urged the press to conduct itself properly since there were important events ahead, a reference to French President Jacques Chirac’s visit to Congo, the Panafrican Music Festival (Fespam) and Independence Day on August 15.
“During this period nothing will be tolerated,” said Lipou-Massala, warning that the new law would be rigorously enforced.
Publishers have reacted strongly to the banning and confiscation of some 15 private dailies, weeklies and monthlies.
“Seizing newpapers is a political error,” said Clotaire Himbou, publisher of Presence Economique, a new newspaper. “I just can’t understand that there are no papers in a country that is celebrating its 36th independence anniversary and which is hosting the Fespam, instituted by the Organisation of African Unity,” he added.
Brandishing documents that prove his paper had complied with the law, he said: “Look, I have everything they asked for. I am registered with the attorney general’s office. They asked me to have a commercial licence, but here is a memo which says that entrepreneurs have until September 15 to get the licence.
“I went to see the attorney general and the minister to find out what is going on since I complied with the requirements, but no one was able to tell me anything. It’s really confusing.”
Security agents made off with all 2 000 copies of Presence Economique, each of which cost about one US dollar to produce.
“The loss is incalculable, since it was our first issue,” said Himbou. “What’s certain is that we won’t be able to recover from this blow.”
The atmosphere was equally gloomy in the editorial rooms of other newspapers in Brazzaville. Some have threatened to sue the government but, according to a lawyer consulted by one media house, it would take over a year for any court to overturn a state decree.
In the meantime, readers have had to make do with the state media — radio, TV and a bi-weekly news bulletin. Many Congolese suspect that the timing of the crackdown is not accidental. Public servant Armand Serge Dimbala, for example, feels it is linked to Fespam, held every year in Congo.
“If it flops, it will be taken away from here and the venue will be switched to Cameroon or South Africa. The government knows that the press is very critical, even biting. I think that’s why they have kept the papers off the street.” — IPS