Senegalese authorities have continued their crackdown on media professionals, with journalists and being arrested and later released over their public remarks on police corruption and government finances.
On September 30, the Special Cybersecurity Division arrested Dia over comments made during a September 23 Sen TV online broadcast, in which he discussed allegations of police corruption, according to Fatima Diop, the host of the program where Dia is a regular commentator.
In a separate case, journalist, founder of the YouTube news site Yerim Post TV (which he no longer operates), was detained on October 1. His arrest stemmed from remarks made during a September 27 interview on 7TV, where he questioned the accuracy of a budget-related announcement by Prime Minister Ousmane Sonko, his lawyer Mamadou Gueye Mbowtold the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ).
However, in a positive turn, both Dia and Seck were released on Thursday, with their cases dropped, their lawyers confirmed.
Press Freedom Concerns Persist
While the charges against the journalists have been dismissed, their arrests highlight ongoing concerns over press freedom in Senegal. The repeated detentions of journalists for expressing critical views raise questions about government intolerance toward dissent and the use of cybersecurity laws to silence media voices.
Senegal has witnessed increasing pressure on independent journalism, with several reporters facing legal action, threats, and detentions for their coverage of political and economic issues.
Media rights organizations continue to call on authorities to respect press freedom and ensure that journalists can operate without fear of harassment or arrest.
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