Senegal condemns the biased policy of France 24

The Senegalese government has condemned the France 24 television channel for an "unethical, unbalanced, tendentious and subversive treatment" of the political situation prevailing in the country. In a statement published on Saturday July 8, Dakar advises the French channel to review its media policy and broadcast the truth of Senegalese news. The Senegalese government is attacking the France 24 channel for its “tendentious and subversive” treatment in the field of communication of its new policies, indeed announced a press release published on July 8 by the Senegalese communication ministry.

In particular, this concerns the "insidious" media coverage of the demonstrations held in early June in the country, the document specifies. Senegal is particularly angry with France 24 for its unfair coverage of clashes between police and supporters of Ousmane Sonko, President Sall's fiercest opponent, and the urban violence that followed. "While an opposition deputy, during a press conference, publicly insulted and defamed heads of state, then apologized, the France 24 channel justified its custody by its position on the speech to the nation of the President of the Republic, which is manifestly fallacious", underlines the ministry as an example. Senegal "categorically" condemns this media policy of "France 24" and recalls that "foreign media must submit to the same legal requirements as national media, who must in no way compromise with the truth".

On June 2, clashes broke out in neighborhoods of Dakar and other cities and universities in the country in reaction to the conviction of Ousmane Sonko, presidential candidate of 2024, who was found guilty of "youth corruption" on June 1. This resulted in waves of violence and massive destruction in the country's infrastructure. Acquitted of the rape of Adji Sarr who had filed a complaint against him, Ousman Sonko was sentenced this Thursday, June 1 to two years in prison and a fine of 600,000 CFA francs by the criminal chamber of the Dakar court. This conviction risks making him ineligible for the presidential election in February 2024. For his part, the outgoing President, Macky Sall, announced in early July that he will not be a candidate.