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A new radio station in Senegal has been raided by troops just as it was about to launch. The soldiers removed broadcasting equipment making it impossible for the station, Premier FM, to operate. The owner of the station, Madiambal Diagne, was imprisoned three years ago for publishing articles in his newspaper critical of the government.
 An estimated 70 armed soldiers raided the Dakar offices of Avenir Communication on May 31 as owner Madiambal Diagne was holding a press conference to launch Premiere FM.
The commander of the gendarmes and officials of the national telecommunications and stations regulatory authority reportedly asked Mr Diagne to stop Premiere FM broadcasts.
When Mr Diagne refused, the soldiers removed radio equipment, leaving the station off the air.
Avenir Communication are the publishers of Le Quotidien, Week End magazine and the satirical Cocorico.
Mr Diagne's publications have been critical of the government. He first applied for a broadcasting licence in 2003 but has suffered numerous delays by the government.
In recent months, the authorities reportedly pressured an equipment supplier not to provide Premiere FM with materials and refused to allow the station to broadcast after claiming its transmitter was too close to the airport, even though other stations broadcast from similar locations.
Le Quotidien has a reputation of being one of the most independent and incisive dailies in Senegal - a claim supported by the jailing in 2004 of owner Madiambal Diagne for publishing articles critical of the authorities.
Madiambal's goal is to install an all-news and information radio station, the first in the country. The station was due to broadcast in French and Wolof from Dakar.
It has plans to quickly extend coverage to the regions and so provide news to thousands of people who had previously had little access to independent information.
Reached on the phone, Diagne sounded exhausted and shell-shocked after spending all night giving interviews. It's understood he may be summoned to meet officials.
[important color=green title=Patrice Schneider]Patrice Schneider is a journalist who devotes his time to helping independent media in transition and post-conflict states reach financial sustainability. His main work is with the Media Development Loan Fund (MDLF), which has a relationship with Mr. Diagne’s media company, Avenir Communications.[/important] |
