Senegal's newspapers went silent on Tuesday as a widespread
protest took place against what is being called a serious decline in press
freedom. Commuters hoping to catch up on the news were met with blank editions
as media outlets pushed back against the government’s actions. According to the
Council of Press Distributors and Publishers (CDEPS), the nation’s media is
enduring "one of the darkest days in its history."
The media blackout came in response to the government
freezing the bank accounts of various media companies and confiscating
equipment, citing unpaid taxes. Officials claim these measures are necessary to
combat financial misconduct in the industry. However, critics argue it’s part
of a broader crackdown under President Bassirou Diomaye Faye, who took office
in March following the defeat of the ruling coalition in elections. Faye’s
victory followed massive opposition protests calling for elections after former
President Macky Sall delayed the vote, sparking accusations that he was trying
to remain in power.
On Tuesday, newspapers on stands had only black covers,
emblazoned with the words “journée sans presse” (French for “day without
press”) and an image of raised fists gripping pencils. While most papers
participated in the protest, some, like Wal Fadjri, chose to publish,
criticizing the blackout as detrimental to democracy and the public's right to
information.
Though radio stations largely continued with regular
programming, some private outlets opted to play music rather than broadcast the
news. Prominent television stations, including TFM and ITV, showed their
support by displaying the protest's slogan, even as they continued their news
broadcasts.
This protest follows earlier concerns that President Faye's
government would tighten restrictions on the media. In June, Prime Minister
Ousmane Sonko faced criticism from journalists after warning that the
government would no longer tolerate media "falsehoods" and accusing
reporters of operating with "too much impunity."
Senegal, which once held a strong position in global press
freedom rankings, has seen a sharp decline, dropping from 49th to 94th place in
the Reporters Without Borders index between 2021 and 2024. Press freedom
advocates are urging the new government to reverse this trend and restore
democratic values.
