The Managing Editor of Sen TV and Zik FM of the D-Media Group, Simon Faye, was on April 10, 2025 summoned by the Senegalese Criminal Investigations Division (DIC) and subsequently taken into custody.
Faye is currently being prosecuted for disseminating false news following an article shared on the social media handle of Zik FM.
The article, titled “Political crisis in Senegal: Ouattara summons Ousmane Sonko to Abidjan,” claimed that ECOWAS allegedly mandated Ivorian President, Alassane Ouattara to summon Ousmane Sonko, leader of the Pastef Party and Prime Minister of Senegal, for a meeting in Abidjan on April 15 regarding the current political tensions in Senegal.
According to the article, “This summons is an acknowledgment of failure for Bassirou Diomaye Faye, whose legitimacy is now openly questioned by his peers.”
The author of the story also indicated that, “West African leaders seem to have drawn a clear conclusion: Ousmane Sonko is Senegal’s strongman, more than the official President, Bassirou Diomaye Faye.”
These statements were deemed defamatory by authorities and Faye was, therefore, summoned for the publication of the article by Zik FM’s Facebook handle.
The article in question was, however, originally produced and published by the media outlet Afrique Confidentielle. Afrique Confidentielle itself has not at any point been invited to answer questions; the Managing Editor of Zik FM, the station whose social media handle republished the article is the one who has been summoned, put in custody and being prosecuted.
Simon Faye was held in police custody until his hearing on April 14, 2025 after which he was granted bail.
The MFWA calls on the authorities to defer issues about media conduct and content to the statutory media regulator, The Conseil National de Régulation de l’Audiovisuel. The authorities must also apply the principle of fairness to all in every situation to avoid raising doubts about the motive and intention that inform their actions.
