WAN is appalled by the government’s closure of Premiere FM hours before it was due to launch on 31 May, an attack which has prevented owner Madiambal Diagne from attending this Congress. About 70 armed soldiers raided the Dakar offices of Avenir Communication - publisher of Le Quotidien, Week End magazine and the satirical Cocorico - as Mr Diagne was holding a press conference to launch Premiere FM. When Mr Diagne refused to order a halt to Premiere FM broadcasts, the soldiers removed radio equipment, leaving the station off the air.

WAN is seriously concerned that the closure of Premiere FM is part of a concerted campaign to restrict the media activities of Mr Diagne, whose publications have been critical of the government. Mr Diagne first applied for a broadcasting licence in 2003 but has since been blocked by the authorities at every turn.

This act of censorship tarnishes the international standing of Senegal, which holds itself up as a beacon of hope for free expression and democracy in West Africa.

The Board of WAN calls on President Abdoulaye Wade to immediately halt the intimidation of Avenir Communication, to allow the launch of Premiere FM and to fully respect international standards of freedom of expression.