The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) [on 19 September] condemned in the strongest terms the shutting down of two private newspapers in The Gambia.
“This is a new infringement of the freedom of expression and of the press in a country which is lives up to the country’s unfortunate reputation of media predator, totally resistant to media pluralism and liberties,” said Gabriel Baglo, IFJ Africa Director.
According to Madi M.K. Ceesay, Director Media Agenda, Editor and Publisher of the Daily News which is a three times a week publication, 3 plain clothes security operatives came to the office on 14 September and ordered the Editor in Chief Lamin Njie to stop publication with immediate effect. “They left. Nothing more or less,” Ceesay added.
The editor of The Standard newspaper, Sheriff Bojang also told the AFP news agency that he had received orders to stop publication on the same day.

allAfrica.com: Gambia: IFJ Urges UN to Test Gambian Leader’s Offer of Journalists’ Murder Inquiry Amid New Media Clampdown

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