Democracy in Dakar

Senegal’s democratic shine dims under Wade-groups

November 29th, 2007  |  by Ben Herson  |  published in Democracy in Dakar, Senegal, Senegal News

By Nick Tattersall
DAKAR, Nov 28 (Reuters) - Senegal’s carefully polished reputation as a bastion of democracy in turbulent West Africa is dimming as its octogenarian leader, Abdoulaye Wade, grows increasingly autocratic, rights groups say.
Political posturing aimed at positioning his son to succeed him, the detention without trial of critical journalists and the diminishing powers of […]

Senegal defends low poll turnout ‘normal’

June 4th, 2007  |  by Ben Herson  |  published in Democracy in Dakar

Senegal on Monday defended the low poll turnout used by critics to put a question mark on the legitimacy of weekend legislative elections, saying the west African nation had never had enthusiastic voters.
"The turnout rate is 38 percent," Macoumba Koume, director of communication in the interior ministry, told AFP.
"This low turnout rate in legislative elections […]

Senegal Sees Low Turnout in Legislative Poll Amid Boycott

June 4th, 2007  |  by Ben Herson  |  published in Democracy in Dakar

By Kari Barber Dakar03 June 2007Barber report - Download (mp3) 536k Listen to Barber report   
 Election workers wait for voters, 03 Jun 2007Voter turnout appeared to be low in Sunday’s legislative election in Senegal, considered one of the most stable democracies in West Africa. Many potential voters are staying away from the polls in response […]

Senegal: 60-armed gov’t security agents raid radio station

June 4th, 2007  |  by Ben Herson  |  published in Democracy in Dakar

Sat. June 02, 2007 12:43 pm.- By Bonny Apunyu. - Send this news article(SomaliNet) The security agents, sent by the government telecommunications agency, which is responsible for regulating the Senegalese radio stations seized all equipment of the Group Avenir Radio; the all-news station, which launched this week, has been banned for 45 days, according to […]

Voters stay away as opposition snubs Senegal polls

June 4th, 2007  |  by Ben Herson  |  published in Democracy in Dakar

By Diadie Ba
DAKAR, June 3 (Reuters) - Many voters stayed away from Senegal’s parliamentary elections on Sunday as the main opposition parties boycotted the ballot to protest against what they called President Abdoulaye Wade’s "monarchy".
Polling stations in the capital Dakar and other cities of the small West African state saw only a trickle of voters […]

Senegal Government Closes Private Radio Station

June 4th, 2007  |  by Ben Herson  |  published in Democracy in Dakar

By Phuong Tran Dakar01 June 2007Tran report - Download 615k Listen to Tran report   
In Senegal, a media owner is preparing to fight the government’s shut down of his new private radio station. Officials say he did not follow the right procedures, but he says he is being silenced. For VOA, Phuong Tran has more […]

Senegal to vote in polls likely to dent its democratic credentials

June 4th, 2007  |  by Ben Herson  |  published in Democracy in Dakar

Senegal holds parliamentary elections on Sunday amid an opposition poll boycott that threatens to tarnish the country’s long-held democratic credentials.
The boycott, the first in the former French colony which for years has enjoyed the reputation of west Africa’s model democracy, comes three months after President Abdoulaye Wade was re-elected in elections disputed by the opposition […]

New Senegal radio shut down before being launched

June 4th, 2007  |  by Ben Herson  |  published in Democracy in Dakar

afrol News, 31 May - The government of Senegal on Thursday deployed a large contingent of armed soldiers to shut off the set up privately-owned radio station in the capital Dakar on Thursday.
Transmitting on 92.3, ‘Premier FM’ is owned by a prominent Senegalese journalist, Madiambal Diagne. Mr Diagne is also the publisher of two daily […]

Opposition boycott of polls takes gloss off Senegal’s image

June 4th, 2007  |  by Ben Herson  |  published in Democracy in Dakar

June 01, 2007     Edition 1
Dakar - "The Old Man is strong!" is a favourite chant of supporters of Senegalese President Abdoulaye Wade, whose rule over the West African state looks set to become stronger still in parliamentary polls.
An opposition boycott of the polls will leave the field clear for a sweeping victory by the […]

Senegal Private Radio Launch Halted by Gendarmes

June 4th, 2007  |  by Ben Herson  |  published in Democracy in Dakar

There was supposed to be something of a celebration: the launch of Dakar radio station Premiere FM. Gendarmes appeared and authorities asked owner Madiambal Diagne to shut down signal tests already in progress.
follow-up to: African Broadcasters Reorganize - August 21, 2006The Administrative Council of the Union of National Radio and Television Organizations of Africa (URTNA) […]


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