The Media Foundation for West Africa (MFWA) and six other regional and international media and digital rights defense organisations have called on Senegal’s new government to address the country’s deteriorating press freedom and safety of journalists’ situation as a matter of priority.
Senegal has long been touted as a model democracy and bastion of press freedom in West Africa. However, the past three years have seen the country descend into political turmoil that spilt over into serial arrests and detentions of critical journalists, suspension and closure of media houses and internet disruptions.
It is in light of the recent repression that the MFWA and the other organisations wrote a letter to the new leadership of Senegal to commit to taking urgent steps to return the country to its envious status as a press freedom haven in Africa. The letter was addressed to President Bassirou Diomaye Faye, and copied to Prime Minister Ousmane Sonko; Communications Minister Alioune Sall; and Justice Minister Ousmane Diagne.
