On August 13, 2024, the Senegalese media observed a news blackout to protest against repressive measures imposed by the new government.
Responding to a call from the Conseil des diffuseurs et éditeurs de la presse du Sénégal (CDEPS), an organization representing broadcast and publishing companies, numerous news outlets suspended their publications and broadcasts in a unified stance against the government’s harsh actions.
Newspapers refrained from publication, except for a few that featured the headline “Journée sans presse” (press-free day) in bold red and white on a black background.
Television stations displayed blank screens, while websites and radio stations limited their content to playing music, with no live news or presentations.
The protest aimed to highlight the government’s increasing pressure on the media, including the freezing of the Press Development and Support Fund, the closure of bank accounts for certain media companies, and a demand for 38 billion FCFA from media outlets—an amount the previous government had agreed to write off.
This demand includes 13 billion FCFA in tax debts and 25 billion FCFA owed to the Agence de Régulation des Télécommunications et de la Poste (Artp).
Besides freezing accounts, the government has issued warnings and confiscated production equipment from certain media organizations. Media leaders, however, have expressed a willingness to negotiate a tax regime that reflects the unique challenges of their sector.
“We are not refusing to pay, and we do pay our taxes. However, we are asking for differentiated taxation, as seen in other sectors like agriculture, public housing, and health,” said Mamadou Ibra Kane, President of CDEPS and owner of Avenir Communication, during an emergency meeting on June 5.
The emergency meeting was triggered by the freezing and seizure of 91 million FCFA from Avenir Communication’s bank account. Mr. Kane criticized the rapid enforcement actions by tax authorities, questioning why some companies were targeted more than others. He also condemned what he viewed as the government’s abuse of power for political purposes.
In response to the financial pressure, several media organizations, including the publishers of daily newspapers Stades, Sunu Lamb, and Vox Pop, suspended their publications.
The media has also accused the new government of threatening press freedom, citing recent statements by Prime Minister Ousmane Sonko, who criticized the media for publishing unverified information.
In addition to economic pressures, journalists have faced arrests. For instance, the Director of Publication of La Tribune, Pape Moussa Traoré, and the Director of Publication of Le Quotidien, Mohamed Guèye, were briefly detained for publishing alleged false information about a military general’s transfer to India.
The Media Foundation for West Africa (MFWA) commended the Senegalese media’s efforts to safeguard their survival amidst these challenges. They called on the government to prioritize dialogue and support an independent press, which has been instrumental in maintaining peace, social cohesion, and democracy in Senegal.
Recently, the MFWA, along with six other regional and international organizations, sent an open letter urging the new Senegalese authorities to uphold press freedom.
