« Nous faisions de la comédie » : Le tribunal rejette la défense de 3 militants de Pastef et prononce de lourdes peines
Pastef-Les Patriotes activists Mandoumbé Diop, also known as Lamignou Darou, Magueye Diaw, also known as Oustaz Thiep, and Moustapha Ndiaye, also known as Ndiaye Touba, who were remanded in custody last Thursday, appeared this Wednesday before the Dakar Magistrates' Court. They are being prosecuted for insulting the head of state and making offensive remarks, following their arrest by the Special Cybersecurity Division (DSC).
According to the facts, the three defendants released a video in which they called the President of the Republic a "traitor" and wished him ill, including a stroke, even wishing for his death.
In court, Mandoumbé Diop, 36, a shopkeeper, admitted to being the author of the videos shown in court. Already convicted last October for public indecency, he is appearing again for similar offenses. Magueye Diaw, 36, and Moustapha Ndiaye, 35, both shopkeepers, also admitted to participating in the first video, while denying the charges against them.
The judges projected two videos onto the screen. The first was filmed by the three defendants during the Magal of Mbacké Bari. In this video, they refer to a "traitor" without explicitly naming the President of the Republic, but express wishes for his illness and even death. When questioned by the presiding judge, they confirmed that this second video had been recorded on July 18, 2026, in Mbacké Bari, after the first one.
The second video features only Lamignou Darou. In this recording, he directly criticizes the head of state, whom he accuses of lacking courage, claiming to feel pity for him because he believes he has been "bewitched." He also states that he does not wish the president success and refers to the speech given by Bassirou Diomaye Faye at the launch of his Kiiraay party, during which the head of state used the expression "sa fitna" (his discord). According to him, the president lacks the courage to even mention Ousmane Sonko's name. In the same video, Lamignou Darou asserts that he is "not afraid to speak his mind" about the president and does not intend to leave the country during his term.
But, as the court proceedings progressed, he made a 180-degree (or 360-degree) about-face , arguing that he was only commenting on current events and that he was not addressing the President of the Republic directly.
For his part, Magueye Diaw, also known as Oustaz Thiep, insisted that the president "has a name" and that no name had been mentioned in their video. Moustapha Ndiaye, also known as Ndiaye Touba, maintained that their remarks were not aimed at anyone in particular. They were simply performing, as they usually do.
During his interrogation, the public prosecutor asked the defendants to whom the greetings expressed in the first video were addressed. Lamignou Darou replied that they had "no recipient." Regarding the second video, the prosecutor asked him who the President of the Republic was. "His name is Diomaye," the defendant replied. The prosecutor then pointed out that he was indeed addressing the Head of State. To this observation, Lamignou Darou retorted, "No, I'm not from Senegal," prompting laughter from the audience.
When questioned by their lawyers, the three defendants maintained that they had not mentioned the name of the president or any institution of the Republic.
In his closing argument, Prosecutor Babacar Bèye asserted that the statements made were an attack on the presidential institution. According to him, even if the defendants are now trying to downplay their remarks, "everyone knows who the real target" of their comments is. He also emphasized that Lamignou Darou had clearly learned nothing from his previous conviction. The prosecution requested a six-month prison sentence, with three months to be served, and a fine of 500,000 CFA francs for Oustaz Thiep and Ndiaye Touba. For Lamignou Darou, the prosecution requested a one-year prison sentence, with six months to be served, and a fine of 500,000 CFA francs.
For the defense, Abdoulaye Tall denounced "a scandalous procedure," arguing that no offense had been committed in this case. According to him, the evidence presented by the prosecution did not substantiate the charges of insulting the head of state and making offensive remarks. He pleaded for the dismissal of the case. Famara Faty argued that the offense of making offensive remarks had not been substantiated. The charges were flimsy, as his clients were making a comedy video. Takha Cissé argued that the defendants were the victim of attempted intimidation. According to him, no offense could be established against them, and he argued for their outright acquittal.
Attorney Théophile Kaossy stated that the prosecution was attempting to silence the defendants. He argued that this was a politically motivated trial initiated by the public prosecutor. Following him, Attorney Abdy Nar Ndiaye asserted that, technically, no offense had been committed in the case at hand. Attorney Youssoupha Camara maintained that the defendants' statements contained no inappropriate language; they had simply expressed their feelings. He requested their acquittal. Attorney Ibamar Diop referred to the arguments presented by his colleagues.
In delivering its verdict, the court found the defendants guilty of the charges against them. Lamignou Darou received a three-month prison sentence and a fine of 500,000 FCFA. Oustaz Thiep and Ndiaye Touba were sentenced to two months in prison and fined 500,000 FCFA each.
Commentaires (88)
Le Vrai.
D'ailleurs à part saliver pour un peu d'argent et suivre comme une hombre un politicien qui te refile ses restes,es-tu capable de comprendre autre chose ?
J'en doute fortement !
Gnoulay
Gnaway
feray
Diomaye
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