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October 28, 2025 – Senegal –
At a regional conference held in Dakar under the aegis of Reporters Without Borders (RSF), the governments of Mauritania, Liberia, and The Gambia formally backed the RSF-initiated “Dakar Declaration on the Right to Information in the Sahel”.
The declaration seeks to enshrine the right of citizens within the Sahel region to access reliable information and to enable a freer press environment—especially critical in the face of security challenges, conflict-driven instability, and threats to media independence. This marks a notable step for the three signatory states, signaling a willingness to elevate press freedom within regional frameworks.
According to RSF, the endorsement occurred at the opening session of the conference, itself part of the broader Salon International de la Presse et des Médias d’Afrique (SIMA) media exhibition held in Dakar. The move follows years of concern from journalists’ groups about the vulnerability of information access in Sahel states, where security-based restrictions, defamation laws, and political oversight have frequently constrained independent media.
While the endorsement does not immediately translate into legal change, media-freedom advocates view it as a vital symbolic affirmation. It offers a platform for future reforms, such as freedom-of-information laws, protections for journalists, and regulatory redesigns to reduce state control of media content. For the citizens of the Sahel, this could enhance transparency, accountability, and civic participation.
Critically, the three states’ backing also places regional pressure on neighboring governments to match the commitment, creating a possible ripple effect across West Africa and the Sahel proper. However, observers caution that declarations alone are insufficient; effective implementation, enforcement, and genuine institutional support will determine if this gesture translates into tangible improvements for journalists and the public.
With this endorsement, Mauritania, Liberia, and The Gambia have taken a public step toward strengthening journalistic freedoms in a region where such rights have often been overshadowed by instability and state control. Observers and media-rights organizations will now monitor the pace and depth of follow-through actions.
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