(Ecofin Agency) - In Senegal, the Radiodiffusion Télévision Sénégalaise (RTS – Senegalese National Television) has been given a formal notification by the National Audio-visual Regulatory Council (CNRA).

The regulatory institution is reproaching the public media for the broadcast of “images of an extreme violence which infringe on the honour, integrity and dignity” of the ex-president of Chad, Hissène Habré, on trial for war crimes, torture and crimes against humanity.

RTS has the exclusive recording rights to the trial which is taking place at the Extraordinary African Chambers (CAE – Chambres Africaines Extraordinaires), a jurisdiction specially dedicated to the trial of Hissène Habré. RTS is criticised for the contents of the 7^th September 2015 newscasts which marked the restart of the trial. One more time, Hissène Habré was forcibly taken to the courtroom. Additionally, pro-Hissène Habré demonstrators were expelled from the courtroom.

CNRA reminds to RTS “the obligation to take on the responsibility for all contents broadcasted by RTS itself as well as channels repeating its signal”. “CNRA invites media editors to respect the rights and dignity of Hissène Habré who, until the conclusion of the trial, is presumed innocent, as well as that of all parties attending the trial, by granting attention and special care to the choice of images to be broadcasted on air” the regulatory organisation warns, threatening with sanctions.