Three Senegalese influencers—Mandoumbe Diop (known as Lamignou Darou), Magueye Diaw (Oustaz Thiep), and Moustapha Ndiaye (Ndiaye Touba)—were sentenced to prison terms for ‘insulting the head of state’ and ‘speaking against public morals’ following the viral spread of a TikTok video. The court handed Mandoumbe Diop a three-month prison term, while Diaw and Ndiaye each received two-month sentences. Additionally, all three were fined 500,000 West African CFA francs.

The case stems from a video recorded after a religious gathering, in which the influencers made remarks against ‘the greatest traitor of Senegal,’ invoking wishes for paralysis, stroke, or death. Although President Bassirou Diomaye Faye was not explicitly named, the court ruled that the comments were directed at him.

Political tensions fuel legal fallout

This verdict coincides with a deepening rift between President Bassirou Diomaye Faye and his former mentor, Ousmane Sonko, whose political alliance recently collapsed after the president launched his own party. The influencers’ legal team has strongly contested the ruling, arguing that the video was a ‘satirical performance’ lacking any direct reference to the president. Lead attorney Me Abdy Nar Ndiaye condemned the verdict as a ‘dangerous precedent’ for freedom of expression in Senegal and confirmed that an appeal will be filed.