Media assets

Radio: Radio Cote d’Ivoire, Frequence 2

Television: RTI1, RTI2, La3, RTI Bouake

News portal: RTI Info

State Media Matrix Typology

Captured Public/State-Managed (CaPu)

Ownership and governance

RTI operates as a state-owned enterprise under the supervisory authority of the Ministry of Communication. The broadcaster’s governance structure is steered by a Board of Directors, composed of 11 members, 10 of whom are appointed directly by the President of the Republic. These appointments preponderantly represent various state ministries, consolidating significant political influence over RTI’s strategic direction. This top-down control has raised persistent concerns about the broadcaster’s lack of institutional autonomy.

Jean Martial Adou was officially confirmed as Director General of RTI on 27 December 2024, following his interim role since July 2024, when Fausséni Dembélé was dismissed by presidential decree. Adou had previously served as chief of staff to the Minister of Communications and pledged upon his appointment to inject new dynamism into RTI .

Fausséni Dembélé, who helmed RTI from 2019 until late 2024, was reassigned in January 2025 as the head of the Ivorian Press Agency—marking a swift pivot within the state media ecosystem.

Source of funding and budget

RTI’s financial model rests on a blend of public and private revenue streams. These include:

• State subsidies
• Commercial advertising income
• License fees (collected via a surcharge on electricity bills)
• Revenue from commercial partnerships and sponsored content

According to the most recent public statements—dating back to 2021—the broadcaster’s annual budget was approximately XOF 22 billion (around US$ 38 million). Nearly 49% of this budget reportedly came from license fee contributions, with the remainder sourced from commercial operations and modest government subsidies.

As of mid-2025, RTI has not released detailed or audited financial statements for several years, raising transparency concerns among media watchdogs and civil society organizations.

A parliamentary motion was tabled in May 2025 to reassess the license fee mechanism following public discontent over rising utility costs. However, the proposal has not progressed beyond committee level.

Editorial independence

While the 2004 Law No. 108 stipulates that RTI must uphold editorial independence and pluralism, this legal guarantee remains largely symbolic. There is no independent media regulator actively monitoring RTI’s compliance, and the political grip over the broadcaster’s governance has translated into de facto editorial control.

Local journalists and independent observers describe RTI as a mouthpiece for government policy, with coverage skewed heavily in favor of the ruling administration. Investigative or critical journalism is nearly absent from its programming, and opposition voices rarely receive balanced airtime.

Despite periodic promises of reform, no credible oversight body or transparent assessment mechanism has been established to enforce editorial independence at RTI.

June 2025

Media assets

Publishing: Fraternite Matin

State Media Matrix Typology

Independent State-Funded and State-Managed (ISFM)

Ownership and governance

SNPECI remains 100% state–owned, with all management appointments—including its Board Chair—handed down by government decree. As of early 2025, Viviane Zunon Kipré, a sitting senator, has been reaffirmed at the helm of the Board of Directors—underscoring the strong political influence shaping its strategic direction.

Source of funding and budget

The print media landscape in Côte d’Ivoire has taken a hit over the past decade, with total industry revenues plunging from XOF 6 billion to XOF 2 billion between 2011 and 2021. SNPECI generated a turnover of approximately XOF 4.8 billion (US$ 8.5 million) in 2017, according to the most recent available data. Fraternité Matin, on its own, pulled in about XOF 116 million (US$ 210,000) in 2018—a drop of XOF 34 millionfrom two years prior. Government support remains the mainstay: SNPECI continues to operate at a loss, reliant on state bailouts to cover operational shortfalls.

SNPECI hasn’t published audited financial statements beyond the 2021 data (turnover: XOF 580 million; capital: XOF 820 million).

On 9 December 2024, Managing Director Serge Abdel Nouho unveiled an ambitious restructuring plan at the 60th-anniversary gala, aiming to transition from a print-centric publisher into a hybrid multimedia group. Initiatives include the launch of Fratmat Television, Fratmat Radio, and Fratmat Podcasts—a bold step toward meeting shifting consumer habits and countering declining print revenues.

Editorial independence

While no formal directives demand pro-government coverage, Fraternité Matin is widely viewed as maintaining a pro-state editorial posture. Journalists report occasional pressure from officials, though independent content occasionally prevails—according to internal analyses.

No independent oversight body exists to systematically review SNPECI’s compliance with the principles of editorial balance or pluralism.

However, industry recognition and internal messaging suggest credible journalism, hence the publisher’s inclusion in one of our Independent Media categories.

June 2025

Media assets

News agency: Agence Ivoirienne de Presse (AIP)

State Media Matrix Typology

Independent State-Funded and State-Managed (ISFM)

Ownership and governance

AIP is a public administrative establishment entirely owned and overseen by the state. It is governed by a management council composed of eight members, seven of whom represent various ministries and government institutions. This structure ensures that political appointees maintain dominant influence over strategic decisions.

The Director General of AIP is appointed by presidential decree upon nomination by the Minister of Communication. In December 2024, former RTI Director General Fausséni Dembélé was named to lead AIP. He formally took office in January 2025, succeeding long-serving director Oumou Barry Sana. Dembélé’s appointment has been interpreted as part of a broader reshuffle of state media leadership in Côte d’Ivoire.

Source of funding and budget

AIP is predominantly state-funded. According to available government data, the agency received a public subsidy of XOF 622 million (US$1.1 million) in 2020, which accounted for approximately 76% of its overall budget that year. More recent audited financial data has not been made public.

Although the national budget for 2025 included a significant increase in overall state spending, no specific allocations for AIP have been disclosed. However, in early 2025, the agency took part in internal consultations with the Ministry of Finance during the national budget formulation process, indicating ongoing state financial support.

Editorial independence

There are no legal provisions obligating AIP to favour government authorities in its reporting. However, the agency lacks statutory guarantees of editorial independence, and no external oversight or accountability mechanisms have been established to assess or safeguard its impartiality.

AIP remains state-owned and closely allied with the government, but it does not function as a mouthpiece or propaganda arm in the manner of more overtly controlled outlets. Its fact‑checking initiatives, range of coverage, and lack of explicit pro-government slant suggest that AIP retains a measured level of editorial autonomy. Content analysis of the agency’s output conducted for this project confirmed the outlet’s general independence.

The agency has strengthened its fact-checking output in 2025, including the publication of several reports debunking misinformation related to military and political affairs. It has also broadened its editorial scope to include socio-economic development topics, such as coverage of small enterprise financing.

June 2025