Social media personalities Mandoumbe Diop (alias Lamignou Darou), Magueye Diaw (known as Oustaz Thiep), and Moustapha Ndiaye (Ndiaye Touba) have each received jail time for posting content deemed offensive to the head of state. The court sentenced Diop to three months in prison, while Diaw and Ndiaye received two months each. All three were also fined 500,000 CFA francs.

The legal dispute stems from a video recorded after a religious gathering, in which the influencers made remarks wishing harm upon a political figure—without explicitly naming President Bassirou Diomaye Faye. The tribunal ruled that these comments were directed at him, citing phrases invoking paralysis, stroke, or death as justification for the charges of offense to the head of state and violating public morals.

Political backdrop fuels legal fallout

This verdict arrives at a critical juncture, as relations between President Faye and his former mentor, Ousmane Sonko, have deteriorated sharply. The president recently formalized the split by establishing his own political party, further straining their alliance. The defense team, led by lawyer Abdy Nar Ndiaye, argues the video was satirical and contained no direct references to the president. Ndiaye has labeled the ruling a dangerous precedent for free speech in Senegal and confirmed his clients will appeal the decision.