Article 19

11/03/2025 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 11/03/2025 11:17

Senegal: Stop media crackdown and introduce legal reforms now

On the International Day to End Impunity for Crimes Against Journalists, ARTICLE 19 calls for justice and bold reforms to protect those who inform the public in Senegal. Impunity for attacks on journalists is not just a failure of law, it is a failure of democracy.

'Impunity for crimes against journalists is an open wound in our democracies. Every attack left unpunished sends a chilling message: truth can be silenced. In countries in conflict or under security and in democratic crisis, journalists and media professionals continue to pay heavily for doing their work, including risk of arbitrary arrests, abductions, incommunicado detentions - and even their life - in total impunity. In many countries, laws on disinformation are weaponised to repress journalists, compounding the physical, psychological, and gender-based violence they already face, especially during periods of political unrest and in retaliation for their critical voices. It is time for governments across West Africa and the Sahel to break this cycle, not only by prosecuting those who target journalists, but by dismantling the legal frameworks that enable harassment and censorship. Media freedom is not negotiable; it is the lifeline of justice, accountability, and the public's right to know.' - Alfred Bulakali, Regional Director, ARTICLE 19 Senegal and West Africa.

'As one of the leading countries in the region promoting democracy and the rule of law , Senegal must take further steps to lift up legal constraining laws including those criminalising defamation, 'false news' and libel to stop any form of harassment against journalists harassments originating from laws and rather to these laws, domesticate UN guidelines on the safety and security of journalists,' he added.

Senegal has taken encouraging steps in adopting an Access to information law, strengthening whistleblower protections, and creating the National Media Observatory, which aims to strengthen media monitoring and the reliability of information disseminated

These reforms matter. Yet, they coexist with restrictive practices, including arbitrary suspensions of media outlets and prosecutions under outdated laws on defamation and "false news." Most recently, On 28 October, 7TV journalist Maïmouna Ndour Faye was arrested, followed by the arrest of RFM journalist Babacar Fall the next day. Authorities also disrupted live broadcasts. Although both journalists were late released and broadcasts resumed, this heavy-handed response to their reporting characterizes the current climate for media freedom in Senegal. Such measures silence critical voices and erode public trust.

In our new report, 'From Restriction to Reform: A Roadmap for Media Freedom in Senegal', ARTICLE 19 West Africa calls on authorities to transform recent advances into structural into concrete actions by:


Reforming or repealing the Press Code to protect all persons engaged in journalistic work, including freelance journalists, bloggers and human rights defenders;
Decriminalising defamation, insults and the dissemination of 'false information', offences used to intimidate journalists and activists;
Ending arbitrary suspensions of media and favouring an independent regulatory system in line with international standards.

'The time has come to turn the page on restrictions and usher in an era of ambitious reforms. Protecting media freedom means protecting Senegalese democracy. By taking these courageous steps to revolutionise media legislations, Senegal will not only create conditions for flourishing media but will strengthenits position as a country that champions rule of law, and leads on democracy and media freedom in the region, with influencing effect to other progressing nations on the continent,' concluded Alfred Bulakali.

Senegal has long been celebrated for its constitutional guarantees supporting a diverse and independent press. Yet, since 2021, the country has witnessed a sharp rise in repressive measures: in addition to journalists increasingly being arrested and prosecuted under vague criminal defamation and 'false news' laws; hundreds of media outlets have been suspended; and internet shutdowns during political unrests have severely restricted access to information at times when people need access to reliable news. Reports on tense politica eventssuch as protests have resulted in physical assaults against some journalists, without those responsible being held accountable for their acts and without reparations for the victims.

ARTICLE 19 is concerned that this crackdown threatens to reverse decades of progress at a time when open discourse is most needed. The urgency of reform is underscored by Senegal's recent political developments, including the election of President Bassirou Diomaye Diakhar Faye in 2024 and his political agenda for transparency and open government; as well as the government's commitments during the Universal Periodic Review (UPR) to align national legislation with international human rights standards.

ARTICLE 19 is committed to supporting Senegal's government, civil society, and media actors in implementing these reforms to safeguard the right to free expression for all people in Senegal, and to create conditions for a flourishing media industry that strengthens democracy and supports development.

Article 19 published this content on November 03, 2025, and is solely responsible for the information contained herein. Distributed via Public Technologies (PUBT), unedited and unaltered, on November 03, 2025 at 17:17 UTC. If you believe the information included in the content is inaccurate or outdated and requires editing or removal, please contact us at [email protected]