Senegal’s President Macky Sall has strongly condemned a “cowardly and inexcusable” attack on a prominent female journalist and director of a private television station.
Maimouna Ndour Faye, who hosts a political program for 7TV, was stabbed several times near her home in the early hours of Friday by an unknown assailant, the channel said in a statement. Also, Faye was hospitalized and her condition is stable, it said.
The attack comes amid heightened political tension in the West African nation over the postponement of a presidential election that was scheduled for February 25.
Political motives?
It was unclear if the attack was politically motivated, officials said.
However, the attack has been denounced by Senegal’s leading figures, including the prime minister, and candidates in the presidential race.
“I strongly condemn this cowardly and inexcusable act of violence against journalist Maimouna Ndour Faye. Freedom of the press is a fundamental right that must be protected and respected in all circumstances,” Sall said in a post on X.
Senegal is widely seen as a stable democracy in a region often plagued by political turmoil and violence.
However, the country has faced growing social unrest and economic hardship amid the COVID-19 pandemic, which has hit hard its key sectors such as tourism and agriculture.
The decision to delay the presidential election until December 15 sparked protests and clashes between security forces and opposition supporters in several cities earlier this month.
Also, the opposition accuses Sall of trying to extend his rule beyond the constitutional limit of two terms, which he denies.
Media under pressure
Senegal ranks 47th out of 180 countries in the 2023 World Press Freedom Index compiled by Reporters Without Borders (RSF), a Paris-based media watchdog.
However, RSF says that journalists in Senegal face “many difficulties” in covering sensitive topics such as corruption, governance, and security.
In the run-up to Senegal’s parliamentary elections in 2022, there was an increase in arrests and violence against media professionals in Senegal, including verbal and physical threats, RSF said.
Moreover, Faye is not the first journalist to be attacked in Senegal.
In 2022, Babacar Touré, the founder and president of the Sud Communication Group, was shot and wounded by unidentified gunmen outside his home in Dakar. No one has been arrested or charged for the attack, which remains unsolved.
Hope for justice
Faye’s colleagues and friends have expressed their solidarity and support for her on social media, calling for a swift and thorough investigation into the attack and justice for the perpetrators.
“We are shocked and outraged by this barbaric act against our colleague and friend Maimouna Ndour Faye. We demand that the authorities do everything to find and punish the culprits. And we stand by her and her family in this difficult time,” said Mamadou Ndiaye, the director of 7TV, in a statement.
Faye, who is also a lawyer and a human rights activist, is known for her outspoken and critical views on Senegal’s politics and society.
She has also been involved in several initiatives to promote women’s rights and empowerment, such as the Women in Law and Development in Africa (WiLDAF) network.
Many Senegalese have praised Faye for her courage and professionalism and expressed their hope that she will recover soon and continue her work as a journalist.
“Journalism is not a crime. Maimouna Ndour Faye is a brave and talented journalist who deserves respect and protection. We pray for her speedy recovery and we hope that justice will be done,” said Fatou Diop, a viewer of 7TV, on X.
Source: Reuters
