Wade fires propaganda chief
2008-08-29 08:02
Dakar - Senegalese President Abdoulaye
Wade dismissed his party's powerful propaganda chief from the
government on Thursday after newspapers accused the minister of
orchestrating attacks on independent media, the government said.
A series of attacks on journalists have helped tarnish the
West African country's reputation for stable democracy, which
has made it a favourite with Western donors.
Wade issued a decree dismissing Farba Senghor as Minister
for Crafts and Air Transport, government spokesperson Abdul Aziz
Sow told Reuters.
It was unclear whether Senghor's post as Director of
Propaganda in Wade's ruling Democratic Party (PDS) would be
affected.
Papers' offices raided
Unidentified men raided the offices of two privately-owned
newspapers in Senegal's capital Dakar after dark on August 17,
sprayed mace at employees and destroyed reporting and printing
equipment.
The newspapers accused Senghor of ordering the attacks,
which he has denied.
"Senghor's name was brought up in the course of an
investigation. This will allow him to defend himself in court,"
said Sow, who is minister of information.
Both newspapers, "L'As" and "24 Heures Chrono", had been
critical of government ministers including Senghor in a bitter
dispute between Wade's administration and privately controlled
media since police beat up two reporters in June.
Many privately owned newspapers and radio stations joined a
campaign to have the police officers put on trial.
The dispute became increasingly acrimonious when newspapers
printed details of Senghor's private life and he responded by
asking government and party colleagues to cut off their
advertising contracts.