Ban on FM broadcasting by RFI lifted after 10 months

The National Council for Broadcast Communication (CNCA) gave its permission on 12 May for French public broadcaster Radio France Internationale (RFI) to resume broadcasting in Côte d'Ivoire on FM frequencies. In return, RFI undertook to quickly strengthen its regional coverage, pay the CNCA 9 million CFA francs (14,000 euros) and "adhere to ethical criteria and professional conduct in its news coverage in Côte d'Ivoire." The CNCA suspended RFI's broadcasts on 15 July 2005, claiming that its coverage of Ivorian events was "unprofessional and unbalanced." RFI's Abidjan bureau has been closed ever since its correspondent, Jean Hélène, was shot in the head and killed by a policeman on 20 October 2003.