Libération de Maïmouna Ndour Faye et Babacar Fall : La presse sénégalaise se dresse pour défendre la liberté d’expression
The 7TV offices served as a rallying point this Thursday for an unprecedented mobilization of Senegalese media professionals. Journalists, media owners, technicians, members of professional associations, and representatives of online media outlets were all present to express their support for Maïmouna Ndour Faye (7TV) and Babacar Fall (RFM), who were arrested and then released after 48 hours of tension in the media sector.
In front of a large audience, Mamadou Ibra Kane spoke out to denounce “a political arrest aimed at muzzling the press”.
“No law in Senegal prohibits a journalist from giving a voice to a person being prosecuted. We were only doing our job: to inform. What happened is a serious setback for democracy,” he said.
The journalist also warned against the “economic pressures” exerted on private media, recalling that the State “still owes subsidies voted by the National Assembly” and denouncing “the termination of advertising contracts between public structures and the independent press”.
"The government wants to weaken the private press in order to establish a one-party state. But a one-party state will not succeed in Senegal," he insisted.
For Mouhamadou Diagne, president of the Convention of Young Reporters of Senegal (CJRS), this mobilization should also serve as a shock to rethink the national media ecosystem.
"What has happened in the last two days is regrettable. Seeing journalists handcuffed and taken away from their workplaces is an image we thought we would never see again in Senegal," he lamented.
He calls for a “frank and constant” dialogue between the state and press owners.
"Young reporters are going months without pay. Press subsidies must be released and used to improve working conditions. If media companies receive support, the entire profession will benefit."
"I simply exercised my right to inform."
Released in the morning after appearing before the prosecutor, Maïmouna Ndour Faye wanted to thank the press, civil society and citizens for their support.
"I never intended to threaten state security or the authority of the judiciary. I only exercised the citizens' right to information," she said.
She explains that her interview with journalist Madiambal Diagne, the subject of the dispute, aimed to give Senegalese people “a complete and balanced version of the facts”.
"I did not give a platform to a terrorist or a rebel, but to a man being prosecuted by the justice system. It is our role to inform and nothing in the law forbids it," the head of 7 tv stated.
Maïmouna Ndour Faye has finally denounced the cutting off of the signal of 7TV and TFM on DTT, which she considers illegal.
"It is not up to the Ministry of Communication to issue an injunction to TDS. Only the CNRA is authorized to do so. I urge the authorities to immediately restore the signals and respect the Press Code."
A call for unity and vigilance
At the end of this day, the Senegalese press is showing rare unity in the face of threats against freedom of expression.
All are calling for a sincere dialogue between the government and media professionals to guarantee a stable, free working environment that complies with democratic principles.
"No to dictatorship, yes to freedom of the press!" chanted the journalists at the conclusion of this mobilization.
Commentaires (9)
Offrir une tribune à un individu qui fait l'objet d'un mandat d'arrêt c'est de la subversion. Leur chance c'est qu'ils ont affaire à un PR qui ne sait pas pourquoi et comment il a été élu
La presse est l'opposition au Senegal et ca se voit carrement. Defendre un detourneur de fonds publique en cavale en France est digne d'une presse malhonnete et mercenaire.
.Reporters sans frontières (RSF)
.La Fédération internationale des journalistes (FIJ)
.Le Comité pour la protection des journalistes (CPJ).
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