The editor-in-chief of Gambia’s bi-weekly Independent newspaper has been arrested by the west African country’s secret service, the paper said on Saturday.
Government agents came to the offices of the paper and detained Abdoulie Sey on Friday evening without giving his staff information about the arrest, employees said.
The Independent staff said Sey’s detention could be related to the newspaper’s coverage on Friday.
The private paper has previously been in the firing line of the government. Last year its managing editor and a reporter were arrested over claims made in an article, and an editor, deputy editor and two reporters were charged with defaming President Yahia Jammeh.
A tough media law that took effect in August 2002 gives a national media commission the same powers as a court of law to examine complaints against media outlets and their employees, including the ability to bring them to trial.
The body, much criticised by international rights groups and media watchdogs, is also empowered to deliver, suspend or retract the authorisation for journalists to practice their profession. – Sapa-AFP