Senegal grapples with press funding crisis and calls for secret fund transparency

Analyst Mamadou Ibra Kane warned that Senegal’s private press is facing an unprecedented multidimensional crisis, citing arrests of journalists, attempted closures of hundreds of outlets and unpaid salaries. He proposes a new state‑media contract that would tie public subsidies to development‑oriented activities such as agricultural education, promotion of national languages and civic awareness.

Civil‑society activist Moundiaye Cissé urged the government to publish reports on the presidency’s secret funds and to enact stricter regulation of political financing. He highlighted Prime Minister Ousmane Sonko’s recent disclosure of his own funds as a step toward greater transparency, calling for exemplary conduct before passing new legislation.

Both voices stress that judicial safeguards have limited executive overreach, but argue that stronger transparency and development‑linked media support are needed to protect democracy and public accountability in Senegal.