On Wednesday, Senegalese President Bassirou Diomaye Faye called for urgent measures to support the national press, following widespread strikes by the media industry in response to economic challenges and concerns over press freedom.
Faye emphasized the need for a renewed dialogue with the media, urging the government to pay special attention to the issues faced by the press and implement effective recovery strategies. While the government statement didn’t detail specific measures, it highlighted the president’s recognition of the media’s critical role in society and the importance of ensuring its survival.
The recent nationwide media blackout on Tuesday, which saw newspapers, radio, and television stations go silent in protest, underscored the severity of the situation. The media industry, represented by the Senegalese Council of Press Distributors and Publishers (CDEPS), has been vocal about the increasing pressures it faces. In a joint editorial, CDEPS warned that the industry is under significant threat, citing issues such as the freezing of bank accounts over unpaid taxes, the seizure of equipment, and the abrupt termination of advertising contracts.
President Faye called on the communications minister to ensure that the national press code is upheld while also promoting an environment where the press can operate freely and within the bounds of the law.
The ongoing crisis has seen the media grappling with financial difficulties, with Prime Minister Ousmane Sonko, who assumed office in April, accusing some media executives of misappropriating public funds and neglecting social security payments. Sonko, in June, also criticized certain news outlets for publishing unverified information, claiming these actions were part of an effort to control the narrative and suppress media independence.
The challenges have been particularly harsh for some outlets, with a company behind two popular sports dailies halting publication after more than two decades due to financial struggles. This decline in the press’s ability to function freely and effectively is reflected in Senegal’s drop from 49th to 94th place on the World Press Freedom Index by Reporters Without Borders from 2021 to 2024.
President Faye’s call for action highlights the urgent need to address these issues to ensure that the Senegalese media can continue to serve as a vital pillar of democracy.
