Senegalese media organizations staged a blackout on Tuesday to protest against what they describe as a government crackdown on press freedom. Major TV stations like TFM, ITV, and 7 TV went dark, and radio stations such as RFM and iradio remained silent. Most newspapers also halted publication except for pro-government outlets Le Soleil, WalfQuotidien, and Yoor Yoor Bi. The Senegalese Council of Press Distributors and Publishers accused the government of freezing media outlets’ bank accounts, seizing equipment, and terminating advertising contracts in retaliation for unpaid taxes. These claims, published in Le Quotidien, have not been independently verified, and government officials have not commented. Tensions between the media and the government have escalated, with international watchdogs like Reporters Without Borders (RSF) raising concerns about press freedom in the West African country.
SOURCE: AP NEWS
Senegalese Media Stage Blackout to Protest Government Crackdown on Press Freedom
