Sanogo Aboubakar and Kangbe Yayoro Charles Lopez, pro-Ouattara of the Television Notre Patrie (TVN) in Bouake, the second largest city in Cote d’Ivoire, have been detained by security forces loyal to Laurent Gbagbo since their arrest on January 28, 2011.
The Media Foundation for West Africa (MFWA)’s correspondent reported that the two journalists were picked up at the airbase of the Liaison Transport Air Group in Abidjan where they were to board a flight belonging to the United Nations Operations in Cote d’Ivoire (ONUCI) to cover story at the Golf hotel, the seat of government of the internationally recogined president, Alhassane Ouattara in Abidjan.
The correspondent said the two Abubakar and Lopez who are yet to be released were accused described in the pro-Gbagbo media as being rebels Forces Nouvelles who are controlling the northern part of the country.
In a statement issued on January 29, the Ivorian Committee for the Protection of Journalists (CIPJ) condemned the arrest and subsequent detention of the two journalists and called for their unconditional release. CIPJ also appealed to the international media to help secure the release of the two journalists.