Côte D'ivoire: CFWIJ Is Troubled By The Physical Assault Of Journalist Diane Kablakan

Location: Côte D'ivoire
Date: May 12, 2021

Diane Kablakan, a correspondent for Ovajab Media, was physically assaulted by police trainees of the gendarmerie on May 9. The journalist was present at Adjame street, where the student police officers were marching, armed with batons. A few of them approached Diane and said, “you are too pretty, come over here. It's because of you we suffer”. Diane was then struck multiple times by the baton-wielding cadets and suffered bruises to her arms, legs, and around her neck.

CFWIJ is appalled by the details of this unprovoked attack against the journalist. The security officers trained to protect people have become assailants in this unfortunate incident. We demand law enforcement authorities in Côte d'Ivoire hold these attackers accountable for breaking the code of conduct and assaulting an innocent woman journalist.

The high command of the police has reportedly canceled the leave for trainee police officers. The decision was made in the aftermath of the assault against Diane Kablakan. The trainee police officers were supposed to go on vacation, but the privilege was revoked. Lieutenant General Apalo Touré from the national gendarmerie visited the journalist at the hospital. The general then issued the orders to cancel the leaves of newly graduated police officers and initiated a formal inquiry. The Ivorian constabulary also released a press release condemning the incident.

Diane, while speaking to the Côte d'Ivoire Digital Press Platform (PNCI), shared, “They pulled me towards them and said, ‘you are so pretty- come over here’, and then they started hitting me.” President of the PNCI, Joel Nianzou, also went to visit Diane after the attack. He stated that the beating of a defenseless woman, a journalist, will not go unpunished.

The journalist spoke to CFWIJ and shared, “The authorities have initiated an investigation, and they hope to find those responsible. I don't even want them fired. I simply want them to stop hindering the press. So for me, I want to speak to them and get them to stop.” Diane shared that it was the first time she suffered such an attack, but it happens often in Côte d'Ivoire. “There are a lot of issues that need to be reviewed”, she stated.

The Coalition For Women In Journalism demands law enforcement authorities conduct an impartial inquiry into the matter and hold the culprits accountable. There is no justification for what Diane suffered at the hands of student police officers. If this incident is overlooked, it may set a precedent for future attacks against women journalists. We stand in solidarity with Diane and wish her a quick recovery.

The CFWIJ strongly condemns the police brutality against journalists. We demand the immediate return of the press cards seized from the security forces. Policies to intimidate journalists should be abandoned, and journalism should be practiced under the criteria of freedom of the press.

If you have been harassed or abused in any way, and please report the incident by using the following form.