On Friday, during the presentation of the economic and social recovery plan, the Secretary-General of Synpics, Moustapha Cissé, warned of the fragility of the Senegalese media sector, marked by an “economic and editorial precariousness”. In response, the Prime Minister Ousmane Sonko has expressed his openness to dialogue with the actors of the press to build a sustainable model. “What I take away from your speech is that the Synpics a des propositions. We look forward to it. They will be examined with attention, because we consider the press as an actor à part entière de la vie nationale, au même titre que les agriculteurs, les éleveurs ou les pêcheurs”, he declared. The Head of Government recalled, however, that if the press has a platform that other sectors do not have, it cannot benefit from a higher status. “It may have a privileged treatment through subsidies, but our objective is to build a model where everyone works in serenity, in respect of specifications and ethics”. Ousmane Sonko also insisted on the need to diversify the sources of financing to ensure the media’s sustainability.
Ousmane Sonko promises ‘a sincere dialogue’ to save the Senegalese press, which has been blocked by the government.
