Senegal Private Radio Launch Halted by Gendarmes

It was supposed to be something of a celebration: the launch of Dakar radio station Premiere FM. Gendarmes appeared and authorities asked owner Madiambal Diagne to shut down signal tests already in progress.

He refused and, reportedly, told telecom authorities to do it themselves. They did, with security agents hauling away enough equipment to render the station off the air.

“He sounded exhausted and shell-shocked after spending all night giving interviews,” said

Patrice Schneider of Media Development Loan Fund (MDLF) in an email to ftm today (Friday, June 1). MDLF has a relationship with Mr. Diagne’s media company, Avenir Communications.

Mr. Diagne, publisher of two independent newspapers, spent time in jail in 2004 after upsetting authorities with critical coverage. Premiere FM is licensed as a news and information radio station. Schneider said authorities apparently pressured at least one supplier to not provide broadcast equipment.

The station is banned from broadcasting for 45 days, according to reports by VOA and Senegalese newspaper Wal Fadjri.

Just by coincidence, legislative elections are being held Sunday, June 3.- June 3, 2007

© Le Quotidien

Keywords:media in Africa

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