Singer arrested for criticising president

A popular Senegalese singer is in police detention over “offensive” remarks widely shared online attacking President Macky Sall and the organisation of recent elections, police and local media said Friday.

Amy Colle Dieng, a popular “Mbalax” artist, was arrested on Thursday, a police source confirmed to AFP without specifying why. But audio of her lashing out at the president has been creating a social media storm in recent days.

Dieng is also heard declaring her support for ex-president Abdoulaye Wade, who stood as an opposition candidate in last Sunday’s legislative elections, and she criticises administrative errors that marred the vote.

Prosecutors instructed police to arrest the artist after becoming aware of the recording, Le Soleil newspaper reported, describing her diatribe as “disrespectful” and “offensive”.

Dieng’s case comes after four people were charged in June with “offending public morals” for distributing a fake image of Sall naked via Whatsapp.

Results from Sunday’s election are due on Friday, with a landslide victory for Sall’s ruling coalition expected.