A Senegalese court sentenced three TikTok influencers to serve prison time and pay a fine for ​insulting the president, their lawyer said in a ‌video posted on Facebook, a move that critics said was an assault on free speech in the West African country.

The three ​men worked for online communications channel Feenal Digital, ​which produces content that some say favors Senegal's ⁠ousted Prime Minister Ousmane Sonko, the head of the ​PASTEF party.

Sonko recently split from his ally, President Bassirou ​Diomaye Faye, who launched his own party last month.

Feenal Digital aims to promote government and private-sector activities, according to its description on Facebook.

Mandoumbe ​Diop, known as Lamignou Darou, was sentenced to three ​months in prison without suspension. He appeared to be the most ‌influential ⁠of the three, with over half a million followers on his TikTok channel. His videos often draw tens of thousands of views.

Magueye Diaw, known as Oustaz Thiep, and ​Moustapha Ndiaye, ​known as Ndiaye ⁠Touba, were each sentenced to two months without parole, Feenal Digital said on Facebook.

Their ​lawyer, Abdy Nar Ndiaye, described their posts ​on ⁠TikTok as comical and said they did not merit criminal prosecution. He said Diaw and Ndiaye were fined 500,000 ⁠CFA ($800).

Feenal Digital ​and a government spokesperson did ​not immediately respond to requests for comment.