Senegal’s President Macky Sall has publicly condemned the violent knife attack on Maimouna Ndour Faye, a prominent journalist and director of 7TV, a private television channel. As one of the leading voices in political journalism, Faye was attacked near her residence, the assailant remains at large.
Faye, who is a presenter for a political show on 7TV, was rushed to a military hospital in Ouakam after sustaining multiple stab wounds. The private television channel has confirmed that her condition is now stable.
President Sall released a strong statement on social media following the incident, expressing his unequivocal condemnation of the assault. He emphasized the importance of press freedom as a fundamental right and asserted that any form of violence against it is intolerable.
This horrifying assault highlight’s the growing need for comprehensive and continued efforts to protect journalists and media professionals, ensuring their right to free speech and expression are safeguarded.
The incident occurred amidst rising political tensions, following the postponement of the presidential elections originally slated for February 25. Whether the attack on Faye was politically motivated remains unclear; nonetheless, the incident serves as a grim reminder of escalating anti-journalism sentiments in the West African country.
Reporters Without Borders (RSF) has previously flagged the increasing incidents of violence against media professionals in Senegal. They noted a rise in verbal and physical threats as well as arrests. Apart from the disturbing attack on Faye, RSF has also issued a statement regarding the suspension of internet access amidst civil discontent over the election delay.
In an analysis on their website, RSF has pointed out that despite a diverse media landscape, news coverage in Senegal tends to be heavily politicized. While the nation has traditionally provided a favorable environment for journalists, the uptick in threats and incidents of violence against journalists is causing concern over decreasing press freedom.