Senegal’s agriculture minister files defamation lawsuit against media outlets

The Minister of Agriculture, Food Sovereignty, and Livestock in Senegal, Mabouba Diagne, has initiated legal proceedings against several media organizations for allegedly publishing false and defamatory information linking him to irregularities in a state audit report.

Legal action targets misleading media reports

Mabouba Diagne filed a complaint with the Dakar prosecutor’s office under case number 8815, accusing multiple news outlets of disseminating fabricated claims regarding his alleged involvement in financial mismanagement within a subsidized agricultural equipment program. The accusations stem from reports published on May 15, 2026, which were based on a 2025 interim audit by the Court of Auditors.

According to his legal representative, Me Khadim Kébé, certain media outlets intentionally distorted the audit findings by associating the minister’s name and image with the reported irregularities. The minister contends that these publications lacked credible evidence to support such claims.

Minister denies allegations and seeks justice

Diagne strongly rejects the allegations, emphasizing that the agreements for the subsidized agricultural programs were finalized before he assumed office. He further clarified that the interim Court of Auditors report does not mention him as a responsible party or participant in any financial misconduct.

In response to what he describes as a deliberate smear campaign damaging his reputation, the minister invoked Articles 255 and 258 of the Senegalese Penal Code, which address defamation and the spread of false information. His legal team is pursuing action against the authors and publishers of these reports to hold them accountable for their actions.