The first part of the conference (6th to 10th July 2020) started with the welcoming remarks by Ms. Katharina Hopp, Deputy Resident Representative of KAS in Abidjan. Then, Mr. Salyou Fanny, IGF National Coordinator, presented a brief summary of the United Nations (UN) report on "The Age of Digital Interdependence". During the following Q&A session, the questions focused mainly on the challenges of digital access, including the cost of technical equipment and internet access, the increasing numbers of internet users and the reduction of the digital divide between urban and rural areas. Afterwards the three panelists Mr. Guillaume Beda, Representative of the Ministry of Communications and Media, Mr. Siméon Kone, Director of Legal Affairs of the High Authority for Audiovisual Communication (HACA) and Ms. Nesmon De Laure, blogger and journalist, exchanged views on the role of the media in the run-up to the presidential election 2020 and during the post-electoral period in Côte d'Ivoire. In particular, they discussed the lack of confidence in the media, the corruption of media outlets and Fake News.
According to the panelists, the role of the Ministry is to accompany the media, and as such many measures have been taken by the government, such as the implementation of awareness raising campaigns on fair play and social cohesion. It is important that the population as well as journalists are aware of the norms and laws that regulate the digital space in social networks and online media outlets.
The second part of the conference (13th to 17th July 2020) was opened by Mr. Jean-Claude Coulibaly, President of the National Union of Journalists of Côte d'Ivoire (UNJCI), who expressed his satisfaction about organising such an important conference in cooperation with KAS. Afterwards, Mr. Samba Kone, President of the National Press Authority (ANP), presented an overview of the situation of the printed press in Côte d'Ivoire and analysed the development of the Ivorian readership from 2000 to 2019. He also explained that the reasons for why citizens no longer have confidence in the press are, amongst others, the lack of objective analysis, the lack of independence and the frequent publication of inaccurate information. He then made proposals to help the media regain the trust of citizens. Mr. Kone concluded by saying: "The media are in a real turmoil. Each media outlet has to revolutionise itself and improve its practices by putting the reader, the citizen, at the centre of its concerns – a real revolution that cannot be improvised, but must be well planned.”
After the wake-up call by M. Kone, Ms. Gaëlle Borgia, Madagascar correspondent for the international press and winner of the 2020 Pulitzer Prize, presented her analysis of Russia’s influence in the 2018 presidential elections in Madagascar. Her presentation highlighted the multiple challenges faced by journalists during elections and the delicate role they play during this period.
Afterwards, the participants were split into different working groups where they discussed the challenges of digital cooperation – based on the recommendations of the UN report – and citizens’ lack of trust in the media and formulated concrete recommendations for Côte d’Ivoire.
In conclusion, participants emphasised that free, independent and diverse media outlets are essential for democracy. In addition to the traditional media, online media outlets allow citizens to access a vast array of information and communicate with thousands of people in different and new ways. According to the International Declaration of Human Rights, everyone should enjoy their right to freedom of expression and access to information. Democratic development depends on high-quality reporting and an equal access to the digital environment. The government must therefore ensure that the internet provides a safe and open environment conducive to freedom of expression and free access to information, and that, importantly, the fundamental rights of citizens are respected and protected, both in daily and in digital life.