# Senegal crackdown on Pastef journalists > Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/senegal-crackdown-on-pastef-journalists > Updated: 2026-08-07T13:57:57.000Z. Sources: 15. Developments: 3. In late July 2026, Senegal's Division Spéciale de Cybersécurité detained three online journalists linked to the opposition Pastef‑Les Patriotes after a video was interpreted as a veiled insult to President Bassirou Diomaye Faye. The men were placed in pre‑trial detention and faced criticism from press unions and human‑rights groups, which called for the repeal of the law criminalising insults to the head of state. A week later, a Dakar court sentenced the three contributors to the outlet Feeñal Digital to prison terms ranging from two to three months and imposed fines of 500,000 FCFA each. The defendants maintained the clip was comedic and did not name the president, arguing the case reflected political persecution of supporters of opposition leader Ousmane Sonko. The verdict underscored growing scrutiny of online speech in Senegal. On 5 August, the court confirmed the sentences, specifying three months for Mandoumbe Diop (known as Lamignou Darou) and two months each for Magueye Diaw (Oustaz Thiep) and Moustapha Ndiaye (Ndiaye Touba), with the same 500,000 CFA fine per person. The defendants reiterated that the sketch was satirical, while critics described the ruling as a further crackdown on free expression amid heightened political tension surrounding former opposition leader Ousmane Sonko and the newly elected president. Further coverage on 5 August and again on 7 August reiterated the same penalties: three months’ imprisonment for Mandoumbe Diop and two months each for Magueye Diaw and Moustapha Ndiaye, together with 500,000 CFA fines. Prosecutors said the TikTok sketch prayed for “the one who betrayed the Pastef project” to fall ill, interpreting it as an insult to President Faye. The defendants’ lawyer, Abdy Nar Ndiaye, warned that the verdict set a dangerous precedent for online satire, noting that former opposition leader Ousmane Sonko had recently split from Pastef to launch his own party. ## Claims - Three Senegalese TikTok influencers were sentenced to prison for insulting President Bassirou Diomaye Faye. (corroborated by 3 sources) - Mandombe Diop received a three‑month prison sentence and a fine of 500,000 CFA francs. (corroborated by 3 sources) - Magueye Diaw and Moustapha Ndiaye each received two‑month prison sentences and fines of 500,000 CFA francs. (corroborated by 3 sources) - The three influencers were associated with the online platform Feenal Digital, linked to former Prime Minister Ousmane Sonko’s PASTEF party. (corroborated by 3 sources) - Lawyer Abdy Nar Ndiaye described the ruling as a dangerous precedent and said the video was satirical. (corroborated by 3 sources) - According to the defense, President Faye was not named in the TikTok video. (corroborated by 3 sources) - The case occurred amid political tension between President Faye and former Prime Minister Ousmane Sonko, who recently split and formed his own party. (corroborated by 3 sources) ## Timeline ### 2026-08-07: Senegal courts jail three TikTok influencers for insulting President Faye Senegalese court jailed three TikTok influencers from Feenal Digital for insulting President Bassirou Diomaye Faye, sentencing them to 2‑3 months and fines of 500,000 CFA francs amid political tension with Ousf 6 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/senegal-courts-jail-three-tiktok-influencers-for-insulting-president-faye ### 2026-08-05: Senegal judges imprison three TikTok creators for insulting the president Senegal court jailed three TikTok influencers from Feenal Digital for insulting President Bassirou Diomaye Faye, sentencing them to 2‑3 months in prison and fines, sparking free‑speech concerns. 10 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/senegal-judges-imprison-three-feeal-digital-commentators-for-offense-to-president ### 2026-07-30: Senegal detains three Pastef journalists over alleged insult to President Faye Three Pastef‑aligned journalists were arrested in Dakar and charged with insulting President Bassirou Diomaye Faye after a video invoking misfortune on a “traitor”, prompting criticism from press and human‑rts 3 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/senegal-detains-three-pastef-journalists-over-alleged-insult-to-president-faye --- Cite as: Senegal crackdown on Pastef journalists. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/senegal-crackdown-on-pastef-journalists