Guinea's media regulator, the National Communication Council (CNC), has suspended La Croisade, a privately-owned Conakry-based newspaper, for two months for publishing an alleged falsehood. The newspaper, suspended on May 19, will be out of circulation until July 19, the Media Foundation for West Africa (MFWA) has reported.
In addition, the newspaper's managing editor, Fadjimba Sayon Keita, has been barred from establishing any other news outlet under a different name and from offering his services to any media outlets in the country during that period.
MFWA's correspondent reported that the sanctions followed a complaint filed against the newspaper by Kadatou Seth Conte, the second wife of Guinea's President General Lasana Conte and founder of FONDIS, an international foundation.
Following rumours about her health condition, on May 16 in issue 212, La Croisade alleged in an article that Seth Conte had gone missing. The article, written by Keita, asked rhetorically: "Rumours were making round to the effect that the boss of FONDIS was said to be mentally ill; and that she was suffering from a psychic ailment and had gone to France for medical attention, True or False?".
According to MFWA's correspondent, because of this content, CNC said the article was injurious to the honour and reputation of Seth Conte. Meanwhile, MFWA has learnt that news about the first lady's ailment has been making the rounds since December 2007. She is reported to have left the country only to return in late May.
