Senegal Detains Activist Over TikTok Critique of Israeli Athletes at Youth Olympics

Eleven Israeli athletes are competing in eight sports during the Youth Olympic Games currently underway in Senegal, an event that has drawn scrutiny from local civil society groups. The games, which began on October 31 and are scheduled to conclude on November 13, feature nearly 2,700 participants from around the world. This marks the first time an Olympic event of any kind has been hosted on the African continent.

Amadou Sarang Diallo, a 27-year-old activist, was arrested on Friday, November 1. Activists stated that authorities took him into custody after he posted a video on TikTok condemning Israel's participation in the competition. Amidou Sidibe, coordinator of the civil society group Club Intermediaire, reported that Diallo was detained approximately 88 kilometers outside the capital city of Dakar.

Sidibe explained that Diallo stated in the video that Israeli citizens would "never get peace in Senegal." He noted that police officers searched Diallo's residence but found no dangerous items. Sidibe argued that the phrasing was misconstrued as a call for violence, noting that in the Wolof language, the expression does not carry a threatening connotation.

The National Alliance for the Palestinian Cause released a statement on November 2 expressing deep concern over the detention. The group asserted that freedom of expression is a fundamental right in any democratic society. They added that the peaceful expression of political conviction cannot, in itself, justify the deprivation of liberty. The alliance reaffirmed its commitment to respecting the laws and institutions of the Republic while urging for the activist's release.

Seydi Gassama, executive director of Amnesty International Senegal, joined the calls for Diallo's release on Monday. Writing on X, Gassama stated that Diallo is not violent and has participated in several peaceful actions denouncing the genocide in Gaza at Abdoulaye Wade Stadium during national team matches. Gassama urged the government to respect freedom of expression.

Local activists described the arrest as a departure from Senegal's historic pro-Palestine position. Dakar joined the Hague Group when it was formed in 2025. That group coordinates legal and diplomatic measures to hold Israel accountable for violations of international law. Since the conflict began in October 2023, Senegal has seen multiple pro-Palestine protests. In February, a group of artists and cultural workers wrote to the government urging it to cut ties with Israel, citing the death of over 74,500 Palestinians in Gaza.

Tensions between the Israeli delegation and local hosts were visible during the opening parade, where reports indicated Israeli athletes were met with boos. In May 2025, Israel’s ambassador to Senegal, Yuval Waks, was forced to leave Cheikh Anta Diop University in Dakar after students protested his presence. Students chanted slogans demanding freedom for Palestine and Gaza outside the venue where Waks was scheduled to speak.