UNCLAS COTONOU 001242

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

STATE FOR AF/W:DBANKS, AF/PD:LBEDICHEK

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PROV PHUM KPAO BN
SUBJECT: BENIN: OFFICIAL NEWPAPER AND OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENT AT
ODDS



1. Following an interview on the President's Malaria Initiative
(septel), Ephrem Dossavi-Messy, a reporter for the official GOB
newspaper La Nation, was asked why there had been no coverage in La
Nation of President Boni Yayi's recent trip to the United States,
which included a meeting with POTUS. Dossavi-Messy replied that the
office of the Presidency had requested that La Nation designate one
reporter and one photographer who would be permanently assigned to
the Presidency and would accompany him on all official travel. La
Nation had explained that it had a policy of rotating its reporters
and staff and was not willing to change this. As a result, nobody
from La Nation had accompanied the President of Benin on his recent
trip to the United States, and there was virtually no mention of
it.


2. Comment: Dossavi-Messy also said that the office of the
Presidency appeared to pick friends and relatives of the POB and his
close associates who worked for other newspapers to accompany him on
his travels. In fact, reporting in all newspapers, as well as on
electronic media, on the POB's trip to Benin was extremely sparse.
End Comment.

HOLTZAPPLE