In the News: Freedom of the press chipped in Algeria

Audio 4:10

By: Frédéric Couteau Follow

Publicity

"  El Manchar, it's over. We soon find ourselves in a better Algeria. Or not.  "

Sad observation, without further details, written black on a white background on the site of the satirical newspaper El Manchar , which resolved to close last Wednesday.

"  The buzz is immediate , exclaims Le Monde Afrique, and pushes the team to publish some details on social networks the next day:" the climate of repression of freedoms, the incarceration of citizens following their activities on the social networks have led us to reflect on the risks we face. "  "

Indeed, sighs the Algerian daily Liberté , "  although voluntary, the suspension of El Manchar is therefore an effect of the campaign of pressure and repression which tracks down free expression. The person in charge of the site clearly, honestly and courageously declared it: it is fear which motivated this withdrawal. (…) With us, continues Liberté, there is an indication that the regime wants to use the deterrent advantage of fear: the disproportion between the acts of repression and the qualifications required for this purpose. To pose the fact that a caricature or a critical post constitutes a threat to national unity cannot be justified by the will to sanction a gap in the expression of a citizen or an activist; rather, we detect the intention to stifle society by spreading fear. Huge, but not surprising, paradox, concludes Liberté, for a power that claims to organize the debate with a view to making democratic progress in our Constitution! "

"  No more laughing!" " , Exclaims the Africa Point.

“This  is the story of a site run by three artisans of black humor, yellow laughter, followers of the enormous and the jokes, ironically unlimited on the turpitudes of their leaders, their newspeak. (…) Example: "A child arrested after asking himself the question: why is the sea blue?" Or: "Algeria is North Korea, less international prestige." In the midst of the coronavirus crisis, the trio entitled "Power commits to hitting doctors less during the next demonstrations". All the news was reread and corrected with stripping humor. This will no longer be the case, deplores Le Point Afrique, and that says a lot about the deterioration of individual freedoms in Algeria.  "

Also in the headlines, municipal elections in Benin

Despite the Covid-19 epidemic, the ballot was maintained.

"  These elections were interspersed with incidents, points out the Banuto news site, despite a satisfactory progress. The electoral platform of civil society organizations coordinated by Wanep-Benin, said it had identified 276 incidents. This, through its observers deployed in nearly 300 polling stations distributed throughout the territory . "

Example, specifies La Nouvelle Tribune , "  in certain localities, indelicate electoral agents were pinned down, (...) some caught in the act with already stamped ballots and voter cards  ".

In any case, we witnessed an election "  without opponents  ", exclaims Le Pays au Burkina.

Indeed, the newspaper said, "  five political parties were in the running. Four preached for the chapel of President Patrice Talon. And the Cowrie Forces for an emerging Benin, the only party which claims to be of the opposition and which took part in the competition, is suspected of also rolling for Talon. Thus, tip the country, we can deduce logically that all five political parties that participated in the municipal pavilion beat Talon. This absence of the opposition, the real one, in the ballot illustrates, if there is still need, Talon's reaffirmed desire to tie up democracy in Benin.  "

Today , still in Burkina, adds, "  Democracy, with regard to political mores, seems to have receded in Benin since Talon presided over the destinies of the country. The fault of the political class? No one knows. But the fact remains that in matters of press freedom for example, things got tough with the imprisonment of our colleague Ignace Sossou. Politically, it is a semblance of corporalization that does not say its name!  "

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