‘Gambia is Africa’s most censored country’

Wednesday, 19 January 2011 11:37

PANA - The  New York-based press freedom watchdog, the Committee to Protect Journalist (CPJ), has condemned Gambian authorities for closing down a community radio, saying 'with the closure of Taranga FM, the Gambia has confirmed its status as one of Africa’s most censored countries,”  in a statement received here by PANA.
Launched in 2009, Teranga FM is based in Sinju Alajie, about 20 kilometres west of Banjul City and it is funded by donations from the local population and advertisement.
Gambia's National Intelligence Agency officials recently summoned Ismaila Ceesay, the managing director of the community radio, for questioning and then ordered the station off the air till further notice.
“Radio is a vital source of news in Africa, but listeners in the Gambia can now hear only a government mouthpiece. The authorities should restore Taranga FM and all independent broadcasts to return to air;”  CPJ Africa Advocacy Coordinator; Mohamed Keita, argued in the statement.
According to the press freedom body, several independent news outlets have been closed down by the government in recent years, including Citizen FM, Radio 1 FM, a local bureau of the Senegalese station, Sud FM, and The Independent newspaper.