15 August 2012 Last updated at 09:33 ET

Ivory Coast profile

Ivorian media were caught up in political rivalry

Media were used as propaganda tools during the five-month military standoff between rival claimants to the presidency in early 2011.

State broadcaster RTI agitated against election winner Alassane Ouattara. The Ouattara camp set up a rival broadcasting operation. Pro-Ouattara forces ransacked and occupied for five months media outlets loyal to former president, Laurent Gbagbo, including Notre Voie newspaper.

"Fierce street fighting is being accompanied by an all-out communication and information war," said Reporters Without Borders at the height of the unrest. Both sides committed abuses against the media, reported the Committee to Protect Journalists.

RTI resumed broadcasts in August 2011, having closed in April because of the fighting.

Radio is Ivory Coast's most popular medium. UN peacekeepers launched Onuci FM in 2005. There are no private terrestrial TV stations, although satellite pay-TV services are available.

BBC World Service broadcasts on FM in Abidjan (94.3), Yamoussoukro (97.7) and Bouake (93.9).

There were 968,000 internet users by December 2011 (via Internetworldstats.com).

Press

Fraternité Matin - state-owned daily
Notre Voie - daily
Le Patriote - daily
Soir Info - private daily
Le Nouveau Reveil - private daily
Le Jour - private daily
24 Heures - private daily
Le Front - private daily
L'Inter - private daily

Television

Radiodiffusion Television Ivoirienne (RTI) - state-run, operates La Premiere and TV2

Radio

Radiodiffusion Television Ivoirienne (RTI) - state-run, operates La Chaine Nationale and Frequence 2
Nostalgie - private, Abidjan FM station
Africa No1 - relay of Gabon-based pan-African station, with some local programming
Radio Espoir - Abidjan Catholic station
Radio Paix Sanwi - Aboisso Catholic station
Onuci FM - run by UN peacekeepers