The former Senegalese Prime Minister, Cheikh Hadjibou Soumaré, was placed in police custody on Thursday March 9, following a summons to the central police station in Dakar. This follows a letter sent to President Macky Sall and made public last weekend. In this text, he notably questioned the Head of State on a possible “donation” of money to Marine le Pen. The leader of the French National Rally (RN) party had met Macky Sall during her visit to Senegal in January.
With our correspondent in Dakar, Charlotte Idrac
” Have you recently donated money to a French politician? If so, is it an amount of 12 million euros (approximately 7.9 billion CFA francs)? In his letter picked up by the media, Sheikh Hadjibou Soumare does not cite Marine Le Pen by name, but it refers to the interview granted by the President Macky Hall to the head of the RN on January 18. The Head of State had dedicated his book to him.
For several days, this letter from former Prime Minister Abdoulaye Wade, former president of the WAEMU commission – and also president of the Democracy and Republic movement – has raised questions. Hadjibou Soumaré is described by several observers as a political leader ” measure », « not used to sweeping statements “.
In a statement earlier this week, government spokesman Abdou Karim Fofana condemned ” baseless and baseless insinuations », « which bear witness to an evil desire to discredit on the Head of State. Contacted by RFI, an adviser to Marine Le Pen denies ” formally » the slightest payment and ensures that the interview with Macky Sall was « exclusively political “.
According to Me Mame Adama Gueye, lawyer for Hadjibou Soumaré, when he was announced in police custody late Thursday afternoon, no reason had yet been notified to him.