Senegal detains three Pastef journalists over alleged insult to President Faye

Three online journalists – Lamignou Darou (Mandoumbé Diop), Oustaz Thiep and Ndiaye Touba – who are close to the opposition party Pastef-Les Patriotes were arrested by Senegal's Division Spéciale de Cybersécurité on 27 July. The men were detained at their outlet, Fegnal Digital, after a video surfaced in which they prayed for misfortune on “the one who betrayed the Pastef project”, which authorities interpreted as a reference to President Bassirou Diomaye Faye. Prosecutor Mamadou Sall auto‑sued them for the criminal offense of insulting the head of state and placed them in pre‑trial detention on 30 July. The case has sparked criticism from the press union Synpics, Pastef mayor Abass Fall, and human‑rights NGO Article 19, which called for repeal of the penal provision on insults to the president. Their lawyer argues the president was never named and the detention is intended to intimidate supporters of opposition leader Ousmane Sonko. The three will appear before the Dakar court for further proceedings.