Senegalese court imprisons three TikTok creators for insulting the president

A Dakar court convicted three men employed by the online communications channel Feenal Digital for posting TikTok videos that were deemed insulting to President Bassirou Diomaye Faye. Mandoumbe Diop, known as Lamignou Darou, was sentenced to three months' imprisonment, while Magueye Diaw (Oustaz Thiep) and Moustapha Ndiaye (Ndiaye Touba) each received two months without parole and were each fined 500,000 CFA. Their attorney, Abdy Nar Ndiaye, argued the content was humorous and should not have been criminalized.

Feenal Digital describes itself as promoting government and private-sector activities, but observers claim it favors ousted opposition figure Ousmane Sonko, who recently broke with President Faye and launched his own party. Critics say the verdict threatens free speech in Senegal. Neither Feenal Digital nor a government spokesperson have replied to inquiries.