Senegalese Trader Serigne MF Prosecuted for TikTok Post Insulting President Bassirou Diomaye Faye

• Senegalese trader Serigne MF prosecuted for a TikTok post featuring a photomontage of President Bassirou Diomaye Faye's parents.
• Charged with public insults, offense against the head of state, and illicit collection and treatment of personal data.
• Case part of a series of lawsuits related to content targeting the president in Senegal.
• Prosecution raises concerns about freedom of expression and online content regulation in Senegal.
• Case sets precedent that may impact social media platform regulation in Senegal.

The prosecution of Serigne MF is part of a series of lawsuits related to content targeting the president, including the arrest of journalist Daouda Waly in March 2026.

A Senegalese trader named Serigne MF has been prosecuted for a TikTok post that featured a photomontage of the parents of President Bassirou Diomaye Faye. The trader, who claimed to be a militant from Pastef, was charged with public insults, offense against the head of state, and the illicit collection and treatment of personal data. This case is part of a series of lawsuits related to content targeting the president. In March 2026, before this incident, journalist Daouda Waly was arrested by the Section de recherches for a caricature of President Faye. Serigne MF was identified by investigators after the post appeared on his TikTok account, according to reports from Libération and ndarinfo.

The prosecution of Serigne MF raises concerns about freedom of expression and online content regulation in Senegal. The trader's defense that he had downloaded the image from Facebook before posting it on TikTok did not convince investigators, who found no other source for the contentious image. This case sets a precedent that may impact how social media platforms are regulated in Senegal. The country has seen a series of lawsuits related to content targeting the president, including the arrest of journalist Daouda Waly in March 2026. The prosecution of Serigne MF is part of this trend, which highlights the need for clear guidelines on online expression and regulation.

The case of Serigne MF has significant implications for freedom of expression and online content regulation in Senegal. As social media platforms become increasingly influential in shaping public discourse, governments must balance the need to protect individuals from harm with the right to free speech. The prosecution of Serigne MF sets a precedent that may impact how social media companies operate in Senegal, potentially limiting the ability of users to express themselves online. This case highlights the importance of clear guidelines on online expression and regulation, which are essential for protecting individual rights while promoting public safety.

Lawyers should watch for the precedent set by this case, which may impact freedom of expression and online content regulation in Senegal.

Source: Original reporting via Libération and ndarinfo