On June 23 the Le Quotidien newspaper published what it said was a confidential letter written by that country’s finance minister to its president. In the letter, the finance minister briefs the president on the status of an investigation into corruption by current and former members of the government.
Senegal did what any self-respecting government would do when a newspaper publishes information about a corruption investigation — it promptly arrested Le Quotidien editor Madiambal Diagne. Diagne was charged with publishing news “which could cause serious political problems.” Can’t have that now, can we?
Other media in Senegal responded in mid-July with a media blackout. Privately owned newspapers and news radio stations stopped broadcasting and publishing on July 9 as part of a “Day without the press” protest against the arrest.
The scary thing is that, as The BBC puts it, “Senegal . . . is seen as a beacon of good governance and stability in volatile West Africa.” If this is good governance . . .
Sources:
Senegal’s ‘Day without the press’. The BBC, July 12, 2004.
Editor’s detention triggers Senegalese media blackout. The Star (South Africa), July 13, 2004.