Senegal RTS staff threaten boycott of Dakar 2026 Youth Olympics coverage

Employees of Senegal's public broadcaster Radio Télévision Sénégalaise (RTS) have announced plans to issue a strike notice and potentially boycott the media coverage of the 2026 Youth Olympic Games in Dakar. The workers say the suspension of a previously agreed enterprise agreement by RTS director Pape Alé Niang is illegal and has undermined their rights, prompting demands for restored agreements and improved working conditions.

Union representatives, including Mamadou Sagna and journalist Alioune Badara Kane, warned that without a reinstatement of the agreement the RTS team will halt coverage of the Games scheduled for 31 October to 13 November 2026. The protest could affect broadcasting of the continent's first Olympic event, as negotiations between the broadcaster's management and unions continue.

The controversy highlights tensions over labour rights within Senegal's state media ahead of a high‑profile international sporting event.