50th Francophone Press Assembly held in Dakar

The long-awaited event largely achieved its objectives. In addition, the double challenge of organisation and participation was achieved.

This is the unanimous observation of hundreds of delegates, experts, editors and distinguished guests from all the parts of the world.

Opening the proceedings, President Macky Sall denounced certain practices in conflict with the rules which govern the profession of journalists.

He said, for him, by definition, freedom is one with the media profession, because it is the base and the shield.

“But freedom itself is dependent on the conditions essential to its exercise.”

He recalled that Senegal, in accordance with its tradition of Téranga, is a land of freedom, of asylum, open to all (refugees, intellectuals, artists, statesman, journalists).

Also, he recognised that Senegal has a thriving media landscape with 33 television channels, 55 general news radios, 200 community radios, 49 daily newspapers and 140 news sites.

From the outset, the former President of the Republic of Cabo Verde, Jorge Carlos de Almeida Fonseca, author of the inaugural lesson, declared that democracy is a political system that feeds on the sap of freedom and particularly of freedom of the press.

According to the former Head of State, ‘our democratic societies, which are still fragile, have a great need for dialogue and respect for cultural differences in order to live in a context of peace and prosper in our societies.’

In his opinion, the influence of the media on populations can be positive by encouraging transparency, dialogue and mutual understanding.

He observed that free and pluralistic social communication contributes to shaping public opinion, in a democratic context.

Also speaking at the event, Madiambal Diagne, president of the International Upf, who is making his comeback at the request of the International Committee, congratulated President Sall for his total support for hosting the 50th Upf Conference in Dakar and his record at the head of the country since 2012.

As for the President of the UPF Senegal and vice-president for sub-Saharan Africa, El Hadji Abdoulaye Thiam, he was delighted with the organisation in Dakar after the withdrawal of Niger.

He traced the history of the UPF, whose first meeting in Dakar was in 1962, in the early years of the country's Independence. “You are returning to your roots,” Mr. Thiam told delegates from the 43 countries present in Dakar.

The highlights of the Dakar Confab included, a gala evening hosted by the Minister of Culture Aliou Sow, who presented gifts to the delegations.

Thirteen personalities from the French-speaking press including the late Serigne Aly Cissé, former president of the Senegalese section and El Hadji Abdoulaye received distinctions for services rendered to the UPF.