Ten days after Senegal’s pledge to protect the right to information, two TV channels disappear for a week

The signals of two private television channels, 7TV and TFM, disappeared from the digital terrestrial television (TNT) network for eight days, without any official justification and in very opaque circumstances. Reporters Without Borders (RSF) condemns this arbitrary blackout and calls on the Senegalese authorities to honour their commitments and identify those behind the disappearance.

The signals of two private television channels, 7TV and TFM, disappeared from the digital terrestrial television (TNT) network for eight days, without any official justification and in very opaque circumstances. Reporters Without Borders (RSF) condemns this arbitrary blackout and calls on the Senegalese authorities to honour their commitments and identify those behind the disappearance.

It seems the Senegalese authorities have been tempted by one of the oldest tricks in the book since late October. By cutting two TV channels’ signals on the TNT network operated by the public company Télédiffusion du Sénégal (TDS), the government is following in the footsteps of its predecessor, which unilaterally cut the signal of the private channel Walf TV twice, in February and June 2024.

The blackouts affecting the two broadcasters between 28 October and 6 November took place in complete secrecy. The 7TV signal was cut on the evening of 28 October, when police raided the channel’s premises to arrest its director general, Maïmouna Ndour Faye, who was released two days later. The same day, TFM was taken off air just minutes after broadcasting an interview with media owner Madiambal Diagne — who is currently subject to an international arrest warrant. The interview was conducted by Babacar Fall, editor-in-chief of Radio Futurs Médias (RFM), which belongs to the same media group.

In a statement published on 5 November, the National Council for Audiovisual Regulation (CNRA) shifted blame onto the ministry, denied any involvement in the suspensions and even ordered TDS to “immediately restore” access to the two channels. Their broadcasts did indeed resume on 6 November.

However, one question remains: who gave the order to TDS to cut off the signals of the two TV channels? Uncertainty persists as  neither outlet was notified of any such decision, and the authorities are yet to make an official statement. TDS Director Aminata Sarr and the Ministry of Communication declined to answer RSF’s questions. 

“Now that 7TV and TFM are back on air, it is essential to establish responsibility and identify those behind this arbitrary decision -– which was made in violation of standard regulatory procedures — and continues to be characterised by complete silence from the authorities. This is unacceptable. The blackout not only deprived the public of its right to information for a week but also brought back  painful memories of Senegal’s recent past, when the same tactics were used by the former regime. RSF urges the authorities to identify those responsible for this attack on press freedom.

Sadibou Marong

Director of the RSF Sub-Saharan Africa Bureau

The suspension of TFM and 7TV occurred just after the arrests of Babacar Fall and Maïmouna Ndour Faye on 28 and 29 October, respectively. At the same moment, Senegal’s Ministry of Communication was closing the International African Media Fair (SIMA), during which it had pledged to protect journalism and  the right to information — without mentioning the incident.

Madiambal Diagne, who is currently in France, has been targeted by an international arrest warrant issued by Senegal. Shortly before leaving the country — despite his travel ban — he had been summoned by the Criminal Investigation Division (DIC) as part of an inquiry into alleged suspicious financial transactions. French courts are expected to rule on his extradition on 25 November.

@ Reporters Without Borders (RSF) - 2021