RFI broadcast suspended in Niger

UNCLAS NIAMEY 000318 SIPDIS DEPT FOR AF/W DENNISON, AF/RSA HARPOLE AND AF/PDPA LISENBY SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PGOV PHUM SOCI KCOR KPAO NG SUBJECT: RFI broadcast suspended in Niger REF: Niamey 196 ¶1. On March 12, 2008 the Conseil Superior de la Communication (CSC), Niger's media regulatory body, announced a decision suspending Radio France International's (RFI) FM broadcast in Niger for 3 months. ¶2. The decision was reportedly based on the airing of a March 10 talk show in support of Moussa Kaka, the director of Radio Saraounia, RFI's local affiliate. Kaka remains jailed on charges of collaboration with MNJ rebels conducting an insurgency in Northern Niger (reftel). ¶3. The CSC based its decision on claims that the broadcast discredited GON institutions and that its hosts refused to allow Nigerien callers (including the Vice President of the CSC, the GON Spokesperson and the Foreign Minister) to participate in the debate. ALLEN