Gambiaj.com – (Dakar, Senegal) – Prominent Senegalese journalist Cheikh Yerim Seck has been summoned by the Special Cybercrime Division of the Police in Dakar, according to reports shared by fellow journalist Madiambal Diagne on his X account (formerly Twitter).
Seck, known for his hard-hitting revelations, was due to appear before police authorities today at 3 p.m. The summoning follows his appearance on a program hosted by Maïmouna Ndour on 7TV, during which he made controversial statements that have since stirred public debate.
The exact reasons for Seck’s summons remain unclear, but multiple Senegalese media outlets have speculated that it is directly linked to his comments on Ndour’s show. Seck has built a reputation for his investigative journalism, often delving into sensitive topics within Senegal’s political and social landscape.
In addition to Seck’s summoning, Diagne also revealed that Bougane Guèye Dani, a prominent opposition figure and media mogul, is wanted by the police, although the reasons for the warrant remain undisclosed. According to Diagne, cybercrime agents visited Dani’s office but were unable to locate him.
Dany’s media empire, including the television network Sen TV, has frequently been critical of the government, and his evasion from authorities has raised further questions about the ongoing crackdown on journalists and media personnel in Senegal.
The summoning of Seck and the pursuit of Dany come just days after the arrest of Sen TV columnist Kader Dia, who was detained by the Special Cybercrime Division on charges of false publication.
Dia had implicated elements of the Senegalese police in a bribery scandal during a broadcast, alleging that corrupt officers accepted payments to allow a “backway” canoe, filled with migrants, to depart from the Mamelles coast. The canoe was later found with dozens of bodies, fueling further outrage and scrutiny over Senegal’s handling of migrant crossings.
Dia’s arrest and subsequent charges highlight growing tensions between the government and the media, particularly those who challenge the official narrative or expose corruption. His allegations against the police have struck a nerve, as the issue of irregular migration remains a deeply sensitive subject in Senegal. Many migrants attempting to reach Europe from Senegalese shores face perilous journeys, often with tragic outcomes.
As the government intensifies its pressure on critics of the new regime within the press, concerns are mounting over the state of press freedom in Senegal.
The ongoing legal actions against high-profile journalists such as Cheikh Yerim Seck and Kader Dia raise serious questions about the limits of free expression in Senegal, particularly when it comes to criticizing the state or its institutions.
Senegal has long been considered a beacon of democracy and press freedom in West Africa, but recent events suggest that this reputation may be at risk.
The recent actions of the cybercrime division, especially in targeting journalists, are seen by many as an attempt to stifle dissenting voices, particularly in the context of the political opposition bracing up for the coming legislatives. The arrest of Kader Dia, the pursuit of Bougane Guèye Dany, and the summoning of Cheikh Yerim Seck all underscore a growing pattern of media suppression in Senegal, prompting concerns over the future of press freedom in the country.
As Seck prepares to face questioning by the cybercrime division, the country watches closely to see what this latest episode in the media-government struggle will reveal.
