Journalist hospitalised following assault by police
(WAJA/IFEX) – On 14 December 2002, Libasse Ndiaye, a cameraman for African Television News (ATN) and Senegal correspondent for the Agence Internationale d’Images de Télévision (AITV) and TV5, was assaulted by security forces at the end of a demonstration. The protest was held by relatives of individuals who perished in a 26 September shipwreck. More […]
Journalists in Casamance receive death threats
(IFJ/IFEX) – The following is a 19 September 2002 IFJ press release: The IFJ condemns the death threats against journalists in Casamance The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ), the world’s largest journalists’ organisation, is very concerned over the death threats received by correspondents of the Senegalese private dailies Wal Fadjri and Sud Quotidien, and other […]
IFJ condemns threats against Senegalese sports journalists
(IFJ/IFEX) – The following is a 28 June 2002 IFJ press release: The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ), the largest journalists’ organisation in the world, condemns the statements made on Wednesday 26 June in Dakar by Jules François Bocandé. Following a gala match involving Senegal’s national football team, which had returned from Japan the day […]
IFJ condemns unfair verdict against two journalists
(IFJ/IFEX) – The following is a 30 April 2002 IFJ press release: IFJ condemns unfair verdict against two journalists in Senegal The International Federation of Journalists, the world’s largest journalists’ organisation, is stunned by the Dakar Tribunal’s verdict last week, sentencing two journalists to four months’ imprisonment with no parole and a fine of three […]
Publication director sentenced to four months’ imprisonment for defamation
(RSF/IFEX) – In a letter to Jusice Minister Basile Senghor, RSF expressed concern following the sentencing of Mamadou Oumar Ndiaye, publication director of the Dakar-based weekly “Le Témoin”. “While not wishing to comment on the facts of the case, RSF recalls that a prison sentence with no parole for ‘defamation’ is viewed by international human […]
Prime minister takes legal action against two journalists for “insults”
(RSF/IFEX) – In a letter to Prime Minister Mame Madior Boye, RSF protested the claim brought against Ousseynou Nar Guèye and Cheikh Touré. “If the journalists are sentenced, press freedom will be the victim of your lack of self-ridicule. It is important that Senegal, starting with its dignitaries, accept the popular press’s mocking remarks, even […]
Two journalists assaulted by police officers during demontsration by former UN peacekeepers
(RSF/IFEX) – In a letter to Minister of Defence Youba Sambou, RSF asked that all necessary measures be taken to ensure that police officers cease assaulting journalists from the private press, as occurred on 10 December 2001. “The police officers acted on the orders of the military authorities, who openly admitted to aiming to prevent […]
CPJ protests deterioration in press freedom under President Wade
(CPJ/IFEX) – In a 24 September 2001 letter to Senegalese President Abdoulaye Wade, CPJ expressed its deep concern over the increased harassment of Senegalese journalists by government authorities since President Wade took office in April 2000. The organization is particularly disturbed by the prosecution of Alioune Fall, editor-in-chief of the independent Dakar-based daily “Le Matin”, […]
Editor-in-chief of “Le Matin” charged with publishing false information
(WAJA/IFEX) – The editor-in-chief of “Le Matin”, Alioune Fall, was summoned to appear in court by the Dakar court judge on Friday 17 August 2001. Fall’s case was heard in court and he was charged with publishing false information. The journalist has since been freed provisionally. Fall was detained on Tuesday 10 July by the […]
Editor-in-chief of “Le Matin” detained by police
(WAJA/IFEX) – On Tuesday 10 July 2001, Alioune Fall, editor-in-chief of the newspaper “Le Matin”, was detained for questioning by the Division of Criminal Investigations (Division des investigations criminelles, DIC). The journalist had written an article about Abatalib Samb’s escape from Reubeus Central Prison in Dakar, the capital. Samb is also known under the alias […]
Journalist beaten by ruling party activists
(RSF/IFEX) – In a letter to the deputy secretary-general of the Parti démocratique sénégalais (PDS, ruling party), Idrissa Seck, RSF expressed concern about an attack on a journalist by party activists. RSF asked the deputy secretary-general to condemn the assault and call on party members and sympathisers to remain calm. “It is your duty to […]
Two journalists interrogated by police about Casamance articles
(RSF/IFEX) – In a letter to the minister of the interior, General Mamadou Niang, RSF protested the 12 December 2000 detention of Mamadou Thierno Talla and Sidy Diop, editor and journalist, respectively, from the Dakar daily “Le Populaire”. RSF also expressed its concern about comments made by certain government officials which are hostile to press […]
CPJ publishes “Hunting The Dictator”
(CPJ/IFEX) – The following is a CPJ news alert: CPJ PUBLISHES “HUNTING THE DICTATOR” CPJ is pleased to announce the Web publication of “Hunting the Dictator,” Chadian journalist Daniel Bekoutou’s account of how his life was threatened after he led the fight to have former Chadian leader Hissene Habré prosecuted for torture and other crimes […]
Sud Communication fined one million dollars and five media workers sentenced to jail for public defamation
**Updates IFEX alert dated 11 June 1996** On 27 June 1996, Sud Communication, the privately-owned Senegalese media company, was fined 500 million CFA (US$ 1 million) for public defamation of The Mimran Group, a sugar-importing company. A Magistrates’ Court judge ordered Sud Communication to pay the fine to Jean Claude Mimran, president of The Mimran […]