Senegal has long been cited as one of the most democratic countries in Africa. Yeah, right:
Reporters Without Borders condemns a decision by the National Council for Broadcasting Regulation (CNRA) on 14 March to suspend three community radio stations based in the Dakar suburbs for two months for violating the rules governing their operations by covering political issues relating to the current local election campaign.
“Contrary to all our hopes and despite our repeated calls for respect for diversity of views, President Abdoulaye Wade’s government has again set a bad example,” Reporters Without Borders said. “Coming after the three-year jail sentence for 24 Heures Chrono editor El Malick Seck, the suspension of these three radio stations dashes the illusions of those who might still have believed in Senegal’s democratic image. It heightens our concern about the way the authorities will behave towards independent news media during this election period.”
The press freedom organisation added: “It is time the government rescinded article 19 of the community radio regulations, banning them from covering political issues, especially during local election campaigns. This double standard, in which those who support the president are allowed to speak and those who do not are silenced, is unfair and absurd.”