The Minister of Communication, Rene Emmanuel Sadi has called on publishers and distributors to step up with regards to the respect of the December 1990 law on the Freedom of Social Communication.
Among others, the said law warrants the deposit of two signed copies of every newspaper at the external or central services of the Ministry of Communication no later than two hours after publication.
It also requires foreign media to deposit two copies of newspapers at the ministry, at least 24 hours before making them available to the public.
“The persons concerned are hereby informed that the said deposits should be made at the central services of the Ministry of Communication, notably at the department of Private Media Development and Advertising,” Minister Sadi instructed.
A register, he added, has been made available for the purpose and receipts made available for every deposit.
The said law has often been criticized as another strategy by government to control media content, as many media organs may see their distribution suspended by the ministry for publishing content that ‘displeases’ those in positions of power.
