In Senegal, the release of Juan Branco is controversial

Arrested, extradited, imprisoned, charged and, finally, flown away. The Franco-Spanish lawyer Juan Branco boarded Monday evening August 7 aboard an Air Senegal plane departing from Dakar and heading to Paris. Targeted by an international arrest warrant issued by Senegal, the lawyer who advises the main opponent of the regime Ousmane Sonko – himself prosecuted for, among other charges, calls for insurrection – had entered “illegally” in the territory, according to Ismaila Madior Fall, Minister of Justice.

While trying to leave the country via Mauritania, Juan Branco was arrested on Saturday August 5 by the Mauritanian authorities, who handed him over to their Senegalese counterparts. Incarcerated in the Reubeuss prison in Dakar on the night of Saturday to Sunday, he was prosecuted for “attack”, “conspiracy”, “spreading fake news” And “acts and maneuvers likely to compromise public security or cause serious political disturbances”, “irregular stay” And “contempt of court”according to his lawyers.

Monday morning, the author of Dusk was presented to the investigating judge. The latter charged him, but granted him provisional release and therefore placed him under judicial supervision. “The only restrictive measure is not to comment on the current file”assures M.^e Abdoulaye Tall, his lawyer in Senegal.

“He is not a Senegalese national, he has his family, his profession. We have very serious judicial cooperation agreements that bind us with France so there was no reason to keep him in the place of detention “justified the Keeper of the Seals on Monday at a press conference, adding, who explains that the judicial information procedure is still in progress and that he can be tried as soon as it is closed. “Judicial cooperation means that he can, for example, serve this possible sentence in France”said the minister.

To the rostrum of the National Assembly

This case has taken on an unexpected dimension in Senegal, to the point of being invited to the podium of the National Assembly. On Saturday August 5, the Minister of the Interior confirmed the arrest of the Franco-Spanish lawyer in the midst of parliamentary debates on the modification of the electoral code. Since then, his release has been controversial.

“This measure violates the honor and dignity of our country. Monsieur Branco teased us. He came here, he exploited the notoriety of Ousmane Sonko to sell himself. He insulted the magistrates, disrespected our institutions. He snubbed the investigators and the investigating judge by refusing to answer their questions”got carried away Mame Adama Guèye, former president of the order of the lawyers of Senegal on the waves of iRadio.

The criticisms are all the more intense as several people have been arrested in recent days in Senegal, accused of having organized the journey and the accommodation of Juan Branco in a hotel in Dakar. “M^e Branco, the Frenchman, main accused, released less than 72 hours after his arrest. His alleged Senegalese accomplices, lawyer and mayor, kept in prison without further trial. Who to explain justice to me? »was indignant at X (ex-Twitter) Cheikh Tidiane Dieye, president of the political platform Avenir Senegaal Bi Ñu Begg (The Senegal we want) and one of the leaders of the opposition coalition Yewwi Askan Wi.

The politician refers to the lawyer Babacar Ndiaye, adviser to Ousmane Sonko and member of his party, who was placed Friday, August 4 in police custody for harboring criminals in the Branco case, on the instructions of the Attorney General . “There are serious elements and indications that show that he would have helped Juan Branco for an irregular entry and stay in the national territory and an attempt to leave irregularly. This justifies his arrest for the purposes of the investigation.Minister Ismaïla Madior Fall justified himself.

“Senegal’s image is tarnished”

Released provisionally and placed under judicial supervision Monday, August 7 in the afternoon, Babacar Ndiaye had been supported by the council of the bar association which had called “to the scrupulous respect by the public authorities of the rights and freedoms granted by law and to the cessation of any obstacle to the exercise of the legal profession in Senegal. » Alpha Bocar Khouma, mayor of Sangalkam, was arrested for having organized the accommodation of Juan Branco during his escape.

“The image of Senegal is tarnished inside and outside the country”regrets lawyer Abdoulaye Tall, who is also a member of Ousmane Sonko’s Pastef – who has since been dissolved by the Senegalese authorities. “His rights were violated, he was arrested, humiliated, handcuffed and he spent a night in prison before being heard in poor conditions. (…) We will not sit idly by, we will pursue the case with the legal instruments available”he assures.

“Juan Branco is a whole side in the defense of Ousmane Sonko. So the regime’s interest is to weaken Sonko’s defense but it’s impossible, Juan Branco will do his job wherever he is.”warns M.^e Tall, who claims to have been able to visit the political opponent, currently admitted to the main hospital in Dakar after observing nine days of hunger strike. “He is still in bad shape, his health is deteriorating”did he declare. “ [Ousmane Sonko] is doing better since undergoing treatment”had however assured Minister Ismaïla Madior Fall earlier in the day.