Mauritanian independent newspapers have cried foul over lack of papers for their print editions for more than a week while state- sponsored publications continued to print normally.
The news outlets have been doing without their print editions for more than 10 days allegedly because of a financial crisis at the government’s only official printing press.
Mauritania’s press union has complained that a paper shortage had deprived readers of any privately-run media. The independent newspaper guild Regroupement de la Presse Mauritanienne (RPM), which counted 32 media organizations as members in 2016, questions why the state newspapers are unaffected but independent outlets are still waiting to go to press.
“Since December 11, the national printing press has suspended printing of independent Mauritanian newspapers due to a shortage of paper,” the RPM union said in a statement, adding 23 publications including seven daily newspapers were affected.
“Meanwhile state-run newspapers Al-Shaab and Horizon are published as usual,” it added.
Local media in the country report that news editors are getting apologies because the national press can’t print their product, but there’s no word on when the situation may resolve.
A government-funded printing press covers two-thirds of private publications’ costs in the French and Arabic-speaking West African nation. Almost one year ago a law was passed in the country preventing private news outlets from raising money through subscriptions or advertisements.
The union has accused the government of “deliberately limiting information to state media,” and called for the printing of all publications to restart immediately, the Africa Times reports.
A source with Mauritania’s state printing press told AFP the stoppage was temporary and a delivery was expected “shortly”.
