16-07-2025
Senegal TV Commentator Arrest Sparks Free Speech Uproar
Senegalese authorities have arrested television commentator Badara Gadiaga after comments aired on a local broadcast were deemed a violation of 'public morality,' reigniting a national debate over the limits of free expression in the West African nation.
Gadiaga was detained following his appearance on a panel discussion where he referenced a past moral corruption conviction involving Prime Minister Ousmane Sonko, leader of the PASTEF party. The remarks came in response to allegations made against him by MP Amadou Ba, who accused Gadiaga of academic fraud.
A video clip of the exchange circulated widely on social media, prompting the country's cybercrime unit to launch an immediate investigation. Gadiaga was taken into pretrial custody on Wednesday evening.
His comments touched on a controversial legal case from Sonko's time in the opposition, when he was accused of repeated sexual assault by former beauty salon employee Adji Sarr—a case that had long polarized public opinion in Senegal.
Gadiaga's lawyer dismissed the charges as 'excessive' and described the arrest as a violation of constitutionally protected free speech.
Public Backlash
The arrest has drawn strong criticism from opposition figures and human rights organizations, who accuse the government of trying to silence dissent and distract from mounting public frustration over soaring living costs and a deteriorating economic outlook.
'This is not about morality—it's about suppressing public discourse,' one rights group said in a statement on Thursday.
Gadiaga is expected to appear before a judge early next week, where a decision will be made on whether to refer his case to trial. The outcome is being closely watched as a litmus test for press freedom and civil liberties in Senegal under Sonko's leadership.
