Africa

Africa

Gambia (1)

Ivory Coast (1)

Gambia (1)

Deyda Hydara, managing editor and co-owner of the independent newspaper “The Point”, was fatally shot on the evening of 16 December in the capital of Banjul. The journalist was ambushed by two unidentified assailants in his car while driving home from a party to celebrate the 13th anniversary of his newspaper. Two other staff members of The Point who were in the car with Hydara were wounded in the attack. In recent months, Hydara, a veteran journalist and press freedom advocate, was an active participant in a local campaign to overturn a repressive media law, which among other things, would have led to the required licensing of journalists by a government run media body. No suspects have been arrested in the in case.

Ivory Coast (1)

Antoine Mass�, a local correspondent for "Le Courrier d’Abidjan", a privately-owned pro-government daily, was killed on 7 November during clashes between the Ivorian army, demonstrators, and members of the French peacekeeping force (Force Licorne). "Le Courrier d’Abidjan" reported that Mass�, who was also a literature professor, was fatally shot as he covered a demonstration aimed at blocking the eastward advance of French troops from the village of Man towards Abidjan. A statement released by the Ivorian Defence and Security Forces (FDS) said three Ivorian soldiers, a policeman, a customs official and three civilians were killed on 7 November when French troops opened fire in the "Du�kou� corridor", in Du�kou� and Dibobly. A FDS spokesman, Lt. Col. Jules Yao Yao, reportedly informed international observers that Mass� was one of the civilian victims.