On Tuesday, August 13, 2024, Senegal’s media landscape experienced an unprecedented blackout as major television stations, radio outlets, and newspapers staged a coordinated protest against what they describe as a targeted government crackdown on press freedoms. The media blackout was a bold statement by the country’s leading news organizations, which allege that the government is systematically undermining the press’s ability to operate freely and independently.
Television screens across Senegal went dark as prominent channels such as TFM, ITV, and 7 TV suspended their broadcasts for the day. Radio stations like RFM and iradio followed suit, leaving the airwaves silent. In a striking show of unity, most daily newspapers refrained from publishing their Tuesday editions, with the notable exceptions of the government-aligned Le Soleil and the privately-owned pro-government WalfQuotidien and Yoor Yoor Bi.
This protest comes at a time of escalating tensions between the Senegalese government and the media. The country, once considered a bastion of democratic stability in West Africa, is now facing international scrutiny over what many see as a decline in press freedoms. The media blackout is not just a protest against the immediate actions of the government, but a broader response to what press organizations perceive as a concerted effort to stifle independent journalism.
The Senegalese Council of Press Distributors and Publishers, representing both private and public media outlets, has accused the government of freezing the bank accounts of several media organizations under the pretext of unpaid taxes. Additionally, the council alleges that the government has seized production equipment and unilaterally terminated advertising contracts, further squeezing the financial viability of these outlets. These claims, published in an editorial in Le Quotidien, highlight the financial pressures faced by the media sector, which has accumulated significant debt over the years.
“For nearly three months, the Senegalese press has experienced one of the darkest phases of its history,” the council stated in its editorial, underscoring the gravity of the situation. The editorial also pointed to the broader context of increasing government hostility towards the media, including incidents of police brutality against journalists and the arrests of government critics.
International watchdog organizations, such as Reporters Without Borders (RSF), have expressed deep concern over the erosion of press freedoms in Senegal. Once ranked 49th on RSF’s World Press Freedom Index, Senegal has plummeted to 94th place in just three years. The decline is attributed to a combination of factors, including the growing insecurity faced by journalists and the government’s tightening grip on media activities.
Sadibou Marong, RSF’s West Africa chief, highlighted the alarming trend in an interview with The Associated Press. “Journalists are not sufficiently protected when doing their job, and politicians are not playing their role in the matter,” Marong stated. He further warned that the political forces in Senegal are endangering the public’s right to be informed, a cornerstone of any functioning democracy.
As Senegal navigates this challenging period, the actions of both the government and the media will be closely watched, both domestically and internationally. The outcome of this standoff could have lasting implications for the state of democracy and press freedom in the country.
