Senegal: court sentences journalist and opposition leader

In Senegal, journalist, Bachir Fofana and opposition figure, Moustapha Diakhaté learned their fate on July 30th as they were sentenced by authorities, as reported by Africa News on July 30th. Prosecuted in separate cases for spreading false news and insulting the head of state, they received sentences ranging from a two month suspended imprisonment to 15 days imprisonment. 

The sentences were lighter than expected, but the convictions are cause for concern. Having already spent a month behind bars, they are now free, but their lawyers have denounced the verdicts as an attack on freedom of expression. In both cases, the prosecution had requested six months in prison, including three months without parole.

Journalist Bachir Fofana, prosecuted for spreading false news, was given a two-month suspended prison sentence and fined 200,000 CFA francs (just over 300 euros). He had claimed that the contract to purchase vehicles for the National Assembly had benefitted someone involved in a corruption case.

Opposition leader and former president of the Benno Bokk Yakaar parliamentary group, Moustapha Diakhaté, was sentenced to two months in prison, including 15 days without parole, for insulting the head of state. He was acquitted of the offence of insulting a public figure exercising one or all of the prerogatives of the President of the Republic.

These verdicts are far from satisfying Maître El Hadji Diouf, the lawyer representing the two men: “We do not accept a single conviction. Suspended or not: we are not interested. We denounce, with the utmost vigour, these decisions which seek to instil panic among columnists and politicians. These are decisions designed to intimidate. People can no longer express themselves. It is a constant threat, a sword of Damocles. Really, let’s stop playing around with imprisoning journalists and politicians.”

Bachir Fofana and Moustapha Diakhaté are free, having already spent more than a month behind bars. However, their lawyers have announced that they will appeal on principle, denouncing a threat to Senegalese democracy.

The sentences are only two in a wave of recent arrests attacking freedom of expression in Senegal, with other media and political personalities being summoned by police in early July.

Africa News, Maghrebi.org