A Senegalese court has sentenced three TikTok influencers to prison over videos deemed insulting to the President of Senegal, Bassirou Diomaye Faye.
The judgement of the Senegalese court has, however, sparked concerns, especially among content creators, about freedom of expression and online speech in the West African country.
The 46-year-old President Faye was recently appointed chairman of the ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government, succeeding Sierra Leone’s President, Julius Maada Bio.
The three influencers are affiliated with Feenal Digital, an online content platform that some observers say is sympathetic to former Prime Minister Ousmane Sonko and the PASTEF political movement.
Three Influencers Sentenced
The court handed the heaviest sentence to Mandoumbe Diop, popularly known as Lamignou Darou, sentencing him to three months in prison without the option of suspension.
Diop, who has more than 500,000 TikTok followers, is the most popular of the three and regularly attracts tens of thousands of views on his videos.
Two other content creators, Magueye Diaw, also known as Oustaz Thiep, and Moustapha Ndiaye, known online as Ndiaye Touba, were each sentenced to two months in prison without suspension.
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The court also fined Diaw and Ndiaye 500,000 CFA francs each, equivalent to about 800 U.S. dollars.
Their lawyer, Abdy Nar Ndiaye, argued that the videos were satirical and should not have resulted in criminal prosecution.
Political Rift Deepens
The convictions come amid growing political tensions in Senegal following a split between President Faye and his former ally, Ousmane Sonko.
The two leaders were instrumental in the rise of the ruling PASTEF movement, but relations have deteriorated in recent months after President Faye launched a new political party, widening divisions within the country’s governing camp.
The latest court ruling has further fuelled debate over political freedoms and the limits of online expression in Senegal.
Rafiyat Sadiq is a political, justice, and human rights reporter with Pinnacle Daily, known for fearless reporting and impactful storytelling. At Pinnacle Daily, she brings clarity and depth to issues shaping governance, democracy, and the protection of citizens’ rights.