CPJ finds flaws, inconsistencies in murder conviction of Senegalese journalist René Capain Bassène
In spite of the Senegalese gendarmerie officer holding a gun held to his head, Ibou Sané held firm. He refused the officer’s order to admit that he knew René Capain Bassène – but in the end it didn’t matter. Testimony he insisted he never gave was used in court to help convict Bassène, a well-known…
VPNs, training, and mental health workshops: How CPJ helped journalist safety in 2024
Haitian journalist Jean Marc Jean was covering an anti-government protest in Port-au-Prince in February 2024 when he was struck in the face by a gas canister fired by police into the crowd. One of at least five journalists injured while covering civil unrest in the country that month, Jean arrived at the hospital with a…
CPJ calls for journalists’ safety, freedom following arrests, attacks in Senegal
Dakar, October 4, 2024—The Committee to Protect Journalists calls for Senegalese authorities to ensure journalists can operate without fear, following the recent detentions of journalists Kader Dia and Cheikh Yerim Seck and attacks on Ngoné Diop and Maty Sarr Niang in the capital, Dakar. “Senegalese authorities must stop arresting journalists for their work and hold…
CPJ calls on Senegal’s presidential candidates for press freedom reforms as 5 journalists freed
Dakar, March 19, 2024—Presidential candidates in Senegal’s elections on Sunday should commit to decriminalizing journalism and dropping all legal proceedings against journalists, the Committee to Protect Journalists said Tuesday. Senegalese are due to vote on March 24, with 19 candidates vying to lead the country, after a last-minute delay to the poll in February triggered protests. The current president, Macky Sall,…
Safety resources for covering protests in Senegal
You can download these safety cards as images or PDFs in English and français. As Senegalese security forces sought to quell protests in February after the postponement of the presidential election, CPJ documented how at least 25 journalists reporting in the capital, Dakar, were physically attacked, briefly detained, targeted with tear gas, or harassed by police. In response, CPJ has…
Record number of journalists in Senegal’s jails amid political turmoil
Senegalese reporter Ndèye Maty Niang, also known as Maty Sarr Niang, would have likely jumped at the chance to report on the political crisis gripping her country since the president postponed elections in early February. But Niang can’t cover the news – she’s in a women’s prison awaiting trial. She’s not alone: Niang is one…
At least 25 journalists attacked, detained, or tear gassed in Senegal protests
Dakar, February 14, 2024—Senegalese authorities must identify and hold accountable police officers who attacked, harassed, and tear gassed or detained at least 25 journalists reporting on protests over the country’s delayed poll and allow the press to report the news safely and without fear of intimidation, the Committee to Protect Journalists said on Tuesday. “Police…
CPJ welcomes West African lawsuit against Senegal internet shutdowns
New York, February 13, 2024—The Committee to Protect Journalists welcomes the recent lawsuit filed against Senegal at the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Court of Justice challenging Senegal’s internet shutdowns in 2023 and seeking to prevent further shutdowns in the country. “The case brought against Senegal at the ECOWAS court is an important…
Senegal delays election, authorities cut mobile internet, revoke Walf TV’s license, harass journalists
Dakar, February 5, 2024—Senegalese authorities must restore mobile internet access in the country and the broadcasting license of Walf TV, investigate and hold accountable those responsible for briefly detaining or harassing at least four journalists, and allow the press to report freely, the Committee to Protect Journalists said on Monday. On Saturday, Senegalese President Macky…
Four Allô Sénégal journalists detained, charged with defamation and incitement following minister’s complaint
Dakar, December 20, 2023—Senegalese authorities should unconditionally release four journalists from the online news outlet Allô Sénégal, who are detained on defamation and incitement charges, and stop criminalizing the work of the media, the Committee to Protect Journalists said Wednesday. Agents from the Criminal Investigations Division (DIC), a branch of the Senegalese police, arrested six…