Senegal’s National Audiovisual Regulatory Council (CNRA) has given media outlets a 30-day ultimatum to comply with article 94 of the Press Code. This article requires prior authorisation from the Ministry of Communication, Telecommunications and Digital Technologies.

The new authorities seem determined to put the press in order. Following the revelations by the Minister of Communication, Telecommunications and Digital Technologies about the situation of press companies and their tax debts, it is now the turn of the CNRA to issue its ultimatum. In a press release, CNRA has given media outlets subject to the provisions of article 94 of law no. 2017-27 of 13 July 2017 on the Press Code 30 days to bring their accounts up to date. “A maximum period of thirty (30) days, from the date of publication of this press release, is granted to all publishers, distributors and broadcasters under contract, whatever the technology used, to comply with the regulations”, noted the organ headed by Babacar Diagne. 

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Article 94 stipulates that ‘the exercise of any activity involving the publication, distribution and broadcasting of audio-visual communication services, whatever the technology used, is subject to an authorisation issued by the minister responsible for communication, after receiving the assent of the regulatory body, under the conditions defined by this code’.

The CNRA thus reminds publishers, distributors and broadcasters that all players in the audio-visual communication value chain must obtain the aforementioned authorisation in order to operate or continue to operate validly. For those players who have already signed an agreement, CNRA invites them to contact the services of the Ministry of Communication, Telecommunications and Digital (Mctn), in possession of the agreement signed with the regulatory body, in order to obtain the said authorisation.  ‘For players in the communication value chain who have not yet signed an agreement, they must, prior to signing their agreement with the regulatory body, in accordance with the aforementioned article 94, have an authorisation issued by the minister responsible for communication’, informs CNRA.

By Mame Woury THIOUBOU / mamewoury@lequotidien.sn

  • Translation by Ndey T. SOSSEH