Senegal: three pro-Pastef commentators sentenced for insulting the head of state

Lamignou Darou received a three-month prison sentence, while Oustaz Thiep and Ndiaye Touba were each sentenced to two months. The three men will also have to pay a fine of 500,000 CFA francs, which is about 760 euros.

In the video that triggered the charges, the commentators called for misfortune and death for “the one who betrayed the Pastef project.” This phrase was widely interpreted as a reference to the head of state, even though the defendants claimed they never mentioned his name or that of an institution.

The three men, who work for the media outlet Feeñal Digital, had been arrested on July 28 at their editorial offices. During the hearing, Lamignou Darou, who had already been sentenced in October for similar offenses, initially stood by his comments before stating that he was merely commenting on the news.

A decision contested by the defense

Oustaz Thiep and Ndiaye Touba explained that the videos were comedic recordings among friends. The three defendants maintained that they were participating in a simple discussion with no intention of targeting the Senegalese president.

The prosecution had requested a one-year prison sentence, including six months of hard time, for Lamignou Darou. It also sought three months of hard time for the other two commentators.

In recent comparable cases, trader Adama Ndiaye and activist Azoura Fall, also sentenced for insulting the head of state, received one month of hard time as part of six-month sentences with a reprieve. The sentences handed down on Wednesday therefore appear to be harsher than those in these two cases.

The lawyer for the three defendants, Me Aby Nar Ndiaye, expressed that he was “both surprised and disappointed” by the ruling. He stated that nothing established the offenses attributed to his clients, claiming they had “never” spoken about the president and that it was merely a discussion among friends.

A tense political context

The prosecutor rejected this argument, believing that the recipient of the comments was clearly identifiable. The lawyers for the three commentators announced their intention to appeal the decision.

According to the defense, these convictions are part of a repressive climate marked by the rift between President Bassirou Diomaye Faye and Ousmane Sonko. Elected in March 2024 with the support of Pastef, Mr. Faye now has strained relations with the head of the government, who currently leads the National Assembly.

The dispute between the two men has fueled tensions within their political camp in recent months. Supporters of Mr. Sonko decry a sidelining of the project advocated by Pastef, while the authorities claim to want to uphold institutions and the rule of law.

The three commentators will remain in custody pending further legal proceedings, unless the court decides otherwise. Their appeal will particularly focus on the interpretation of the comments made in the video and their alleged connection to the head of state.