In Senegal, Cheikh Hadjibou Soumaré was placed under judicial control, and charged this Friday, March 10 for “spreading false news and defamation”, according to his lawyer. The former Prime Minister had been placed in police custody on Thursday, following a letter made public addressed to President Macky Sall, in which he questioned him in particular about a possible ” Don ” silver ” to a French politician “, referring to the sum of 12 million euros. Allegations concerning Marine Le Pen, the leader of the National Rally who visited Senegal in January.
With our correspondent in Dakar, Charlotte Idrac
Cheikh Hadjibou Soumaré left the courthouse free at midday. Under judicial supervision, he has no right to speak about the case and has made no comment.
But for Fallou Blaise Diouf, part of his Democracy and Republic party, the accusations are ” light “. “ He just asked questions “to the Head of State” concerning the management of public money “, And ” without naming anyone », « in a democracy, it is a right “Reacted the manager. According to him, “theState uses justice to settle its own accounts “.
The former Prime Minister received the support of several opposition and civil society figures.
But for Minister Birame Faye, Cheikh Hadjibou Soumaré should not have made insinuations ” serious, cowardly, without any evidence he says. ” Even in the form of questions, it comes out of nowhere “, President Macky Sall ” only gave his book to Marine Le Pen “, continues the framework of the APR the presidential party.
He wanted ” hurt to the Head of State, believes for his part Ibrahima Mendy, APR manager in Ziguinchor, ” with a political objective “according to him, for” to shine in view of the presidential election scheduled for 2024.
► Read also Senegal: Cheikh Hadjibou Soumaré in police custody after mentioning a “donation” from Macky Sall to Marine Le Pen