Information Center: 2009

The interaction between church and state takes many forms around the world today. In the U.S. Constitution, the two are declared separate, while a number of countries where religion plays a significant role in government policy avoid defining the relationship altogether. Then there are the outright theocracies, where church and state are not only inseparable, but indistinguishable.

Reporters Without Borders is shocked by the deputy information minister’s arbitrary decision, announced on 19 January, to fire four journalists from state radio and TV broadcaster RTVGE for “insubordination” and “lack of enthusiasm.” This shows “the absurdity of a regime in which the news media are subject to absolute control by the information ministry,” the organisation said.

Reporters Without Borders addressed an open letter yesterday to President Teodoro Obiang Nguema calling for the immediate release of Rodrigo Angue Nguema, the Malabo correspondent of Agence France-Presse (AFP) and Radio France Internationale (RFI), who has been held in the capital’s Black Beach prison since 17 June for getting his facts wrong in a report.

Reporters Without Borders hails yesterday’s release of Rodrigo Angue Nguema, the Malabo correspondent of Agence France-Presse and Radio France Internationale, although a court is insisting that the two French news organisations pay 40 million CFA francs (61,000 euros) in connection with a defamation action that was brought against him.