The Senegalese government has ordered the closure of 381 media outlets deemed non-compliant with the country’s Press Code, a move widely condemned by media organizations and human rights groups.
On April 22, 2025, Minister of Communications Alioune Sall signed a decree mandating the immediate shutdown of outlets that failed to meet regulatory standards. Of the 639 media entities that applied for regularization through the national platform, only 258 were approved, leaving a majority facing sanctions. The decision has drawn fierce backlash. The Council of Press Broadcasters and Publishers of Senegal (CDEPS) announced it would challenge the decree in court, citing procedural flaws. The Senegalese Union of Information and Communication Professionals (SYNPICS) also criticized the measure, highlighting acknowledged errors in the list of banned outlets.
International watchdog Article 19 urged authorities to halt enforcement, warning that the crackdown violates Senegal’s commitments under international law, notably Article 19 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, which protects freedom of expression. The organization stressed that such sweeping restrictions should only be imposed in exceptional circumstances tied to legitimate concerns like national security.
The timing—less than two weeks before World Press Freedom Day on May 3—has intensified regional and international concern. Critics argue the mass shutdown threatens to roll back democratic gains in Senegal, traditionally seen as a model for press freedom in West Africa.
