Welcome to Africanews

Please select your experience

Watch Live

News

news

Senegalese singer released after 10 days in prison

Senegal

Senegalese singer Amy Colle Dieng , has been released after spending ten days in prison, for offending president Macky Sall.

Her freedom is temporary as the case in which she is charged with ‘offense against the head of state’ may still see her jailed for up to three years.

The singer was arrested after broadcasting a sound recording in which she criticizes the Senegalese president, describing him as a ‘sneaky lizard’.

A #Senegalese musician Amy Colle Dieng has been charged to court for “offending the president and spreading fake news”, thru wattsaap. pic.twitter.com/7Xn2W7vamk

— Alpha Kamara (@AlphaKamara4) August 10, 2017

Senegal continues a crack down on free speech, political criticism: https://t.co/SjxD98rPkZ

— Andrew Lebovich (@tweetsintheME) August 9, 2017

Dieng’s case has stained the country’s image, often presented as a model of democracy on the African continent.

A few months ago, four people were charged for defaming president Macky Sall.

These arrests revive the debate on the existence of a law on offense to the head of state in Senegal.

View more