​LONASE GFM: l’APPEL denounces a breach of contract which is “abusive” 

  The Association des Éditeurs et Professionnels de la Presse en Ligne (APPEL) expressed its deep concern at the weekend over the unilateral breaches of partnership agreements between certain public companies and private press agencies. The latest case to date concerns the de facto termination by the Loterie Nationale Sénégalaise (LONASE) of the contract binding it to the Groupe Futurs Médias (GFM). In a communiqué, the APPEL considers that these terminations “have occurred without a valid reason and have seriously affected the economic stability of the press companies, the employment of workers and the plurality of information”. According to the organisation, they participate in “a logic which progressively weakens the private media, which are nevertheless essential actors of our democracy”. The association says it “strongly denounces these practices which amount to abusive breaches of de facto contracts” and affirms its “solidarity with the GFM and all the press companies which are victims of similar decisions”. It encourages the bodies concerned to “seek justice to assert their rights”. Reaffirming its commitment, APPEL underlines that it will remain determined to defend “the freedom of the press and the independence of the media in the face of political interference or economic pressures”. Beyond the GFM case, the organisation calls for a general mobilisation of the sector’s actors. “Only a strong and solidary union will allow the Senegalese press to preserve its dignity, to ensure its mission of public service of information and to contribute to the construction of a solid democracy”, she said. Les éditeurs en ligne conclude by reaffirming their vigilance and their determination to “engage all the actions necessary to guarantee a media environment based on transparency, respect for contracts and justice”.