Senegalese journalist Pape Alé Niang released conditionally

Niang's release yesterdayin response to a request by his lawyers came after an intense campaign by media associations and an appeal by 78 African journalists and press freedom groupsthat was organised by RSF. This appeal called on the Senegalese authorities to free Niang and respect the country's constitution, which enshrines freedom of the press.

When freeing Niang, the authorities placed him under judicial control, banning him from talking about the case and from leaving the country. He is required to surrender his passport and to present himself once a month at the office of the investigating judge in charge of the case.

Niang was originally arrested on 6 November on chargesof revealing information "likely to harm national defence," "receiving confidential administrative and military documents" and disseminating "false news likely to discredit state institutions.

He was released on 14 Decemberbut wasrearrestedsix days later for allegedly violating a prohibition on communicating in any form about the case against him. He then went on hunger strikein protest against his detention, which he regarded as arbitrary, but had to be hospitalised when, as a result of the hunger strike, his condition became "very critical," his supporters said.

In one of the highlights of the campaign for Niang's release, RSF's secretary-general visited himon 1 December in Sébikotane prison, near the capital, Dakar.