Parliament amended the Seychelles Broadcasting Corporation (SBC) Act in June 2026, transferring powers over board appointments from the Constitutional Appointments Authority to the president. Critics fear this amendment could curtail editorial independence and increase political influence over media
The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ), alongside the Public Media Alliance and six other prominent press freedom organizations, has issued a strong condemnation of a proposed Seychelles Broadcasting Corporation (SBC) Bill. This coalition expresses grave concerns that the draft legislation, if enacted, would severely compromise the institutional independence of the SBC, which serves as the country's public broadcaster. The core of their apprehension lies in the potential for the Bill to introduce mechanisms that could allow for undue governmental influence or control over the SBC's editorial content, operational decisions, and overall autonomy, thereby undermining its crucial role in providing impartial information to the Seychellois public. This development signals a significant challenge to media freedom and democratic principles within the island nation.
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