On 29 July, Pape Ale Niang, owner of online news outlet Dakar Matin and a government critic, was lifted from his home and placed under detention. On August 1, the journalist was brought before the Prosecutor, questioned and charged for “calling for insurrection and acts or manoeuvres likely to compromise public security”, according to local media reports.
His lawyer Moussa Sarr informed the media that Pape Ale Niang started a hunger strike after his arrest and, three days later, was taken to Dantec Hospital in Dakar to receive medical assistance due to poor health.
Pape Ale Niang was also arrested in November and December 2022, charged with “disclosing information likely to harm national defence and spreading false news”. He was released in January 2023 subject to judicial control and other conditions.
The Deputy General Secretary of the IFJ, Tim Dawson, said that all over the world journalists are now being targeted, persecuted and labelled as opposition supporters for simply making political comments that those in power deem unfavourable. “Journalists must be allowed to do their work in the public interest without any form of intimidation or harassment. Doing this is part of a democratic exercise that helps the citizens to make informed choices. This noble act of media freedom and freedom of expression should be respected by all governments irrespective of political ideology”.
The IFJ calls on the Senegalese government to drop all charges against Pape Ale Niang and to release him immediately and unconditionally.
UPDATE: Journalist Pape Ale Niang was provisionally released on August 8 after a 10-day hunger strike, according to the journalist’s lawyer, Moussa Sarr.