Senegal accuses former journalist of "offending" the president

A government critic and former journalist was accused Wednesday of "offending the head of state" in a series of Facebook posts targeting President Macky Sall, his lawyer said.

Accused of "maneuvers and acts likely to compromise public security", Adama Gaye will be held in the prison of Rebeuss, in the capital Dakar, said his lawyer Sheikh Khouraissy Ba to AFP.

Gaye describes himself as an activist for "justice, transparency and progress" and has written numerous articles accusing the government of mismanagement, particularly in the oil and gas sector, which is expected to see major expansion in the years to come .

However, in recent weeks he has published several Facebook posts about the privacy of the president and his entourage.

Gaye was summoned Monday night by the Criminal Investigation Division of Dakar for interrogation, for "spreading reports contrary to morality" and insulting the president.

The Senegal section of Amnesty International has condemned his arrest.

"Any pretext is good for silencing those who criticize the Macky Sall regime," said Amnesty spokesman Seydi Gbadama on Tuesday.

During a brief telephone interview with AFP on Tuesday, Gaye described himself as a "prisoner of conscience".

He stated that he was "a political detainee retained for his writings on specific facts, issues vital to Senegal's national sovereignty, particularly on the management of hydrocarbon resources".

He was referring to his articles and articles about a scandal over oil and gas contracts that has upset the political establishment since a BBC report aired on the subject in early June.

The report investigated the badignment of offshore exploration and exploitation rights to Petro-Tim, which is part of the Timis Corporation, in 2012 – just after Sall took office.

Shortly after, the president's brother, Aliou Sall, was hired by Timis, led by Australian-Romanian businessman Frank Timis.

Following the broadcast of this report, Aliou Sall resigned in late June at the head of a state-run savings fund, while denying any conflict of interest.

Senegal is known for its largely peaceful democratic traditions and freedom of the press.

According to Reporters Without Borders' World Press Freedom Index, the West African country ranks 49th out of 180 countries, according to which "abuses against journalists have been relatively infrequent" , although "some subjects remain prohibited".