FACT-CHECK: Élisabeth Ndiaye is not dead, the confusion comes from the disappearance of her sister Hélène Harley

False information announcing the death of Élisabeth Ndiaye, an emblematic figure of television news in Senegal, is circulating on social networks and has been relayed by certain media. In reality, the person who died Friday morning in Paris is her sister, Hélène Harley, aged 93, former announcer and great voice of Radio Senegal.

What is asserted

Publications broadcast on social networks, taken up by certain media, announce the death of Élisabeth Ndiaye, former star presenter of the national television news. This information is false.

What the audit reveals

The person who died in Paris is Hélène Harley, sister of Élisabeth Ndiaye. A death confirmed by his family. Aged 93, she left her mark on the history of Senegalese radio with her voice and her talk shows.

In 1964, Hélène Harley joined the Senegal Radio and Television Office (ORTS) as a announcer. Over the years, she has established herself as an emblematic figure in the national audiovisual landscape and a recognized journalist for Radio Senegal, impacting several generations of listeners.

Élisabeth Ndiaye, a figure of Senegalese television

Élisabeth Ndiaye, whose resemblance to her big sister is quite striking, for her part, is a major figure in Senegalese television, which she joined in 1970. Star presenter of the television news, she left her mark on several generations of viewers before leaving the small screen in 2001.

In 2023, the Convention of Young Reporters of Senegal paid tribute to him for his career on national television. In March 2026, Le Soleil still cited her among the pioneers who marked the history of television news presentation in Senegal.

A denial relayed by Adama Sow

Senegalese journalist and media analyst Adama Sow, specialist in digital issues and former television magazine presenter, also published a message to deny this false information on the death of Elisabeth Ndiaye, relayed by several media.

Verdict: confusion between two sisters

The verification makes it possible to clearly distinguish the two pieces of information: Élisabeth Ndiaye is not the person whose death is announced. It was her big sister, Hélène Harley, who died in Paris.

CG DIOP