"there is no threat to freedom of expression" (Abdoulaye Bibi Baldé)

Abdoulaye Bibi Baldé, Minister of Communication, returned to the controversy over Article 27 of the Electronic Communications Code. This Wednesday, in the National Assembly, he announced that, in this text, "there is no threat to freedom of expression even less on a restriction in electronic communications." For him, there is a problem of interpretation that makes his department open to better writing and a good understanding of the spirit and meaning of this article.

Speaking of the Press Code, Mr. Baldé reminded that it was voted and promulgated. According to him, there remain currently decrees of application which are being finalized. "These texts are introduced in the administrative approval circuit, particularly at the level of the Secretary General of the Government. An ongoing bill will set up the High Authority for Regulation of Audiovisual Communication (HARCA) to replace the CNRA, "he says. The objective sought by the minister is to strengthen the powers of this regulatory authority, including sanctions.

On aid to the press, Abdoulaye Bibi Baldé said that "another legal instrument is expected to replace it. This will be the Support Fund and Press Development. However, by highlighting the complexity of defining precisely the purpose of these funds, he mentioned the concerns of the state to make it more effective.

The minister recalled the existence of a decree in the implementing legislation, which sets the benefits and obligations of newspaper companies and another on funding. This will prevent, he says, "the RTS to compete with private companies in the advertising market."

Regarding the qualifying conditions for being a journalist, he said: "It is necessary to have the required diplomas, issued by the public journalism schools to private approved. The minister against set up a commission charged with the validation of the acquired experiences by the practice allowing them validly to play their roles of journalists. This commission will be in charge of evaluating and validating these acquired experiences ".