Senegalese Commentator Arrested After Remarks on Student’s Death

Senegalese authorities arrested a media commentator after he publicly criticised the handling of a student’s fatal fall from a university building, prompting condemnation from press freedom advocates and civil liberties groups. The detainment has underscored ongoing tensions over freedom of expression in the West African nation.

The commentator, Mouhamadou Lamine Diop, was taken into custody on February 14, 2026, in Dakar after posting remarks on social media that questioned the circumstances surrounding the death of a university student at Cheikh Anta Diop University. Diop’s comments, which called for accountability and transparency from authorities, were deemed by police to be defamatory and potentially inciting public unrest. He was charged under Senegal’s criminal laws related to “insulting public authorities” and “undermining public order,” and held for questioning at a local police station.

The arrest occurred amid heightened public frustration over the student’s tragic death, which followed a fall from a campus building earlier in February. Eyewitness accounts and student protests had already sparked debate about the adequacy of campus safety measures and the official response to the incident. Diop used his platform to amplify these concerns, advocating for a thorough investigation into the factors that led to the fatality. His detention came shortly after his posts gained significant traction on social media, drawing national attention to both the student’s death and divergent narratives about what had occurred.

Senegalese press freedom organisations, including the Senegalese Union of Journalists, condemned the arrest as an overreach by law enforcement that threatens free expression. In statements released following Diop’s detention, rights groups argued that criminalising commentary on matters of public concern sets a worrying precedent for journalists, commentators, and citizens alike. They stressed that public criticism of government responses, even if pointed, falls within the scope of legitimate speech protected under Senegal’s constitution and international human rights commitments.

Civil society activists also called for Diop’s immediate release and for the charges against him to be dropped. They highlighted that restricting commentary on sensitive incidents not only chills public debate but also undermines democratic discourse at a time when communities are seeking answers and accountability for the student’s death. As of the latest reports, Diop remains in detention pending further legal proceedings, and legal aid groups are preparing appeals on his behalf.

Reference – 

https://gambiana.com/another-senegalese-commentator-arrested-over-remarks-on-students-death/

Senegalese commentator arrested for remarks about student’s death