Johnny Yannick Nalimo, administrator of the journal Sabangotiala, received a formal summons from the Office Central de Répression du Banditisme (OCRB) following his recent reporting on the embassy. Minister Evariste Ngamana allegedly threatened the journalist with a transfer to the Garagba prison as a direct consequence of his work. An unnamed colleague characterized the pressure on the press, stating: "C’est-à-dire qu’on ne veut pas que quelqu’un qui fait des marches, manifestations, parle mal. C’est-à-dire qu’il faut tout le monde fermer sa bouche. Tu es journaliste, tu dois être dans la ligne. Contraire, hors, tu parles hors champ, la prison." These legal threats against the Sabangotiala administrator follow his coverage of activities involving the embassy.
Summons and Intimidation Tactics
A bailiff delivered the summons to Johnny Yannick Nalimo after an investigator paid the official 10,000 francs CFA to facilitate the process. The document lacked a stated purpose or explanation for the legal action taken against the Sabangotiala administrator.
An unnamed source described the physical state of the document, noting the presence of multiple markings indicating a priority status. "Ils ont mis des tampons d’urgence, beaucoup beaucoup sur la convocation. Et la convocation n’a pas de motif, de raison, flou," the source stated regarding the lack of clarity in the charges. This absence of a specific motive has left the legal basis for the summons ambiguous as the investigation into his reporting continues.
Embassy Tensions Under Scrutiny
Interim Ambassador Nicaise Kossi confirmed the reporting of Johnny Yannick Nalimo regarding current tensions at the embassy of the Central African Republic in Morocco. Nicaise Kossi verified the accuracy of the details published in Sabangotiala concerning the situation at the diplomatic mission. His confirmation provides official corroboration for the accounts that led to the legal scrutiny of the administrator. These reports originally detailed specific internal difficulties occurring within the facility. The confirmation from the diplomat establishes the validity of the information that triggered the intervention by the Office Central de Répression du Banditisme. Johnny Yannick Nalimo remains under pressure from authorities following his publication of these findings. The acknowledgment by Nicaise Kossi serves as the primary validation for the content of the articles now being challenged by government officials. No further details regarding the nature of the embassy tensions were provided by the interim ambassador during his confirmation of the reporting.
