Senegal must immediately and unconditionally release journalist Maty Ndaye Niang, and columnists Cheik Bara Ndiaye and Oustaz Assane Seck, the International Press Institute (IPI) said. Authorities must stop the legal harassment and detention of critical journalists and dissidents, and review and revise legal provisions detrimental to press freedom and freedom of expression.聽
, who works with the investigative outlet K茅woulo, was detained on May 16, and convicted on May 24, on six counts, including attempts to 鈥樷�檖ublic security鈥欌�� and “usurpation of the function of a journalist鈥欌��. She was arrested after the government in a Facebook publication. She remains in detention.
In addition, two columnists are still behind bars in relation to their media publications. Cheikh Bara Ndiaye of Walfadjri TV, arrested and , after he published a statement with some suggestions, apparently not to the authorities鈥� liking, to end the current socio-political crisis. Oustaz Assane Seck of Sen TV was on June 7, 2023, after he declared in a video that there would be a public protest if Ousman Sonko, leader of an opposition party, was sentenced to prison. Seck made the declaration before a criminal court the politician on June 1, 2023, followed by public protest that was brutally repressed by security forces.
Pressure on press freedom and civil rights in Senegal has in recent months. Authorities recently shut down the internet to quell the public protest following the two-years prison term handed down to Ousman Sonko.聽
Authorities have been cracking down on journalists, critical media houses and dissidents who criticize the perceived government repression targeted at Sonko, or who report on anti-government protests. On June 1, the critical media house Walfradjri was for 30 days, for the in the space of three months, over allegations of 鈥渋rresponsible鈥� coverage.
Before the arrest of the above- mentioned, two other journalists had been arrested and detained in Senegal. On May 24, 2023, , editor-in-chief of the privately-owned daily Yoor-Yoor, was arrested over allegations of contempt of court, illegal exercise of the journalism profession, and complicity in these acts. was arrested and detained on March 3, 2023, after his media outlets published revelations about the court case involving the opposition leader, Ousmane Sonko.聽
Following pressure from media organizations, including planned actions by national media defense groups to in the country, journalists Pape Ndiaye and Serigne Saliou Gueye, were released from prison on June 20, but under severe conditions that restrict their freedom of speech and movement.聽
鈥淎uthorities in Senegal must immediately and unconditionally release journalist Ndeye Maty Niang as well as columnists Cheikh Bara Ndiaye and Oustaz Assane Seck”, IPI Deputy Director Scott Griffen said. 鈥淧ress freedom and critical voices are indispensable for any vibrant democracy.鈥�
He added: 鈥淭he IPI global network is deeply concerned about the ongoing press freedom backslide in Senegal. We call on the government of President Macky Sall to聽 ensure journalists can do their work of informing the public freely and independently. Authorities must stop instrumentalizing the law to crack down on journalists and dissidents and must urgently revise legal provisions to prevent this abuse.鈥�