FREEDOM OF THE PRESS SUFFERS A BODY BLOW IN SENEGAL

By Lisa Vives Global Information Network

Moussa Sarr, the alleged victim never filed a complaint against Sonko and the case was being pursued at the discretion of a government prosecutor.

Pape Ndiaye had alleged in the broadcast that all 19 deputy prosecutors in Dakar were in favor of dismissing the case. However it was the wish of President Macky Sall that the case be sent for criminal prosecution.

Angela Quintal, with the Committee to Protect Journalists, urged Senegalese authorities to immediately release Pape Ndiaye, cease jailing members of the press for their work, and reform the country’s laws to ensure they cannot be used to criminalize journalism.

“The jailing of journalists has thrown into serious doubt Senegal’s reputation as a stable democracy in West Africa,” said Quintal, Africa program coordinator with the New York-based CPJ. The six charges filed against Ndiaye include provoking a crowd,