The well-known activist Assane Diouf appeared before the Dakar Criminal Court on Thursday, July 17, 2025, for disseminating false news, speeches contrary to good morals and insulting a person exercising all or part of the prerogatives of the President of the Republic.

The 53-year-old, self-proclaimed entrepreneur living in Guédiawaye and father of five, categorically denies the charges against him. In court, the judge reminded him of the existence of a video circulating on social media in which he allegedly made comments contrary to public decency. But Assane Diouf denies this: "I never mentioned the Prime Minister's name," he insisted, while acknowledging that he had made these comments. Asked about the real target of his remarks, he declared: "I am a whistleblower who previously lived in the United States. I was deported and I fought for freedom. But I found that those with whom I fought this fight accomplished nothing. In Senegal, we know that nothing works."

When the judge mentioned the expression "jakarlo ak xar xarou tank Adji Sarr," he replied: "I experienced the events, I fought in the Adji Sarr case. I only reported what everyone knows. I did not invent any facts."

Regarding the accusations of rape and insults against political leader Ousmane Sonko, he defended himself: "When you watch the video, you will not see anywhere where I called him a rapist."

Facing the prosecutor, Assane Diouf was asked to name those he had accused in his remarks. He said: "I can name the first President of the Republic to hold a position." The prosecutor countered that in the organization of institutions, the person he had designated as the "first liar" was none other than the Prime Minister. The defendant, however, denies having called him that.

In its observations, the public prosecutor points out that the facts are established from a TikTok video in which Assane Diouf allegedly made vulgar remarks about the Prime Minister, mentioning gifts received such as a vehicle and an apartment from the head of Seneguindia, without being able to provide any evidence. "The offense of disseminating false news is clear. As for the obscene and vulgar remarks, they constitute speech contrary to good morals. He adopted a stance of denial in court, but the facts are consistent. We request that he be sentenced to two years in prison, including six months in prison," the prosecutor requested.

The defense pleads for acquittal

Defense lawyers Alioune Badara Fall and Aboubacry Barro argued for acquittal. "My client never mentioned the Prime Minister. And even if he did, this article of the penal code cannot be applied. He was not given the opportunity to provide evidence during the investigation," said Fall. His colleague, Barro, pointed out that the Prime Minister is not a constitutional institution protected by law in these circumstances: "He is neither head of state nor the holder of public authority according to the terms of the Constitution. We request the postponement of the prosecution or, failing that, a benevolent application of the law," Barro argued before requesting provisional release. The prosecution opposed the interim request, citing a risk of reoffending.

The court rejected the request for provisional release before adjourning the case until August 7, 2025.