Senegal - April 2025

On 22 April, Senegal’s government ordered the immediate suspension of the activities of media outlets not in compliance with the country’s Press Code, citing the need to professionalise the sector. An evaluation carried out by the state regulator found that 381 of Senegal’s 639 media outlets were non-compliant. While recognising the need to regularise the media sector, which is disorganised and economically fragile, critics argued that the short deadlines for compliance are impractical and that the suspensions will exacerbate pre-existing financial and operational challenges. The suspension order follows several measures by President Bassirou Diomaye Faye’s administration that have strained the sector. These include reversing a decision to cancel media outlets’ tax debts, freezing some media companies’ bank accounts, and cancelling state advertising contracts.

Sources: MFWA, Sene News, Le Quotidien, Radio France Internationale