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Alert

Suspension lifted for independent television station

(JED/IFEX) - Canal Plus Bénédiction (CB Plus), a faith-based television station broadcast from Brazzaville, was reauthorised to broadcast on 3 July 2009 following a five-month suspension.

CB Plus was suspended on 12 February 2009 on orders from the state-run national media regulator, the High Council on Freedom of Communication (CSLC), after it aired archival footage of a 1991 national political convention. According to the regulator, the footage contained "violent" and "abusive" statements. The footage was aired during a period of heightened political tensions in the lead-up to the 12 July presidential elections.

A few days prior to the station's suspension, CB Plus general director Elith Ibourefet and programs director Aimé Onlaby were summoned by the Territorial Surveillance Directorate (DST), the Congolese intelligence agency, for questioning. They were questioned about their motive in rebroadcasting the footage of the 1991 convention and about their links with certain members of the Congolese opposition.