Gambiaj.com – (DAKAR, Senegal) – In a surprising development on Thursday, prominent Senegalese journalist and CEO of Avenir Communication, Madiambal Diagne, took to social media to announce that border police have been instructed to confiscate his diplomatic passport upon his departure from the country. Diagne, who is a vocal political columnist, denied ever having such a passport and criticized the authorities for their oversight.

“I am traveling this evening. Instructions have been given to the airport police to withdraw my diplomatic passport. I have never had such a document, strange as it may seem to the new authorities of the country,” Diagne posted on X (formerly Twitter).

Diagne expressed his bewilderment, asking, “How can I give them a document that I never had?” He went on to highlight that any records should clearly show that he has never traveled on a diplomatic passport. “The police must still be able to see in their machines that I have never traveled with a diplomatic passport. Frankly, this must be elementary,” he added.

Diagne’s statement brings to light ongoing tensions between media figures and the government. It is unclear why authorities suspect him of possessing a diplomatic passport. However, his public comments have sparked discussions online, with some questioning the motives behind the move.

Diagne is a well-known critic of the government’s policies and has previously faced legal issues for his outspoken views.

The incident also raises concerns about freedom of movement for journalists and critics in Senegal, especially under the newly established administration. This latest episode underscores the growing scrutiny that journalists face in their professional and personal activities, as authorities appear to intensify efforts to monitor and potentially restrict the movements of those they deem problematic.