When he commits himself to a business, Juan Branco rarely does it halfway. A few years ago, the young Parisian lawyer became known to the general public for his links with the movement of yellow vests, of which he was the lawyer for certain figures, such as Maxime Nicolle and Christophe Dettinger. His name had subsequently resurfaced in the case of the sextapes of the former Secretary of State Benjamin Griveaux, forced to withdraw his candidacy for mayor of Paris. Juan Branco was then identified as an adviser to the revealer of these videos Piotr Pavlenski. The Parisian lawyer, who has defended the Senegalese political opponent Ousmane Sonko for several months, is now the subject of a complaint from the Quai d’Orsay, as well as an international arrest warrant issued by Senegal. The Express takes stock.
The lawyer accuses Senegal and French officials
Since the spring, the Parisian lawyer has taken a keen interest in the defense of the main Senegalese political opponent Ousamane Sonko, involved in several legal cases, as the presidential election approaches in the country of Teranga (February 2024) . Juan Branco also presents himself as a lawyer for many Senegalese and Franco-Senegalese civil parties, after clashes in June left at least 16 dead according to the authorities, 23 according to the NGO Amnesty International. In early June, Ousmane Sonko was found guilty of “corruption of youth” and sentenced to two years in prison. Violent demonstrations had broken out across the country to challenge his imprisonment. It was following the violent police repression of these demonstrations that Juan Branco announced on June 22 that he had filed a complaint in France and a request for an investigation at the International Criminal Court (ICC) in The Hague against the Senegalese president. Macky Sall for “crimes against humanity”, after the worst disturbances that Senegal has known in early June for years.
These procedures for “crimes against humanity” also target Senegalese Interior Minister Antoine Felix Abdoulaye Diome, General Moussa Fall, commander of the Senegalese gendarmerie, as well as a hundred “other individuals”, and concern the period from “March 2021 to June 2023”. At the time, the first demonstrations, already violently repressed, took place after the announcement of the first complaint filed against Ousmane Sonko. During a press conference on June 22, the French pamphleteer, banned from Senegalese territory for several weeks, also pointed the finger at two aid workers from the French Embassy in Senegal of having contributed to police violence during these demonstrations. , which he describes as a “crime against humanity”.
Reported by the Quai d’Orsay
For these latest accusations targeting French officials from the Dakar-based Embassy, the Quai d’Orsay has reported to the judicial authorities, Agence France Presse (AFP) reported on Thursday (July 13th). The Quai d’Orsay “has become aware of the serious and unfounded accusations made by Juan Branco, and of his recent publications disclosing information of a professional nature targeting French agents stationed in Senegal”, specified the same source, confirming information from private radio European 1 Wednesday. More specifically, the Parisian lawyer would have revealed, in “recent publications”, the identity of officials of the French Embassy in Senegal, in connection with the troubles in Senegal.
“In view of Mr. Branco’s actions, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has […] made the necessary reports to the competent authorities. It is up to these authorities to assess the follow-up to be given.” The Paris prosecutor’s office confirmed on Thursday that it had received this report, which is currently being examined. occasion or because of their function, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs grants them functional protection”, explained the Quai d’Orsay, recalling that it was bound by an obligation to protect its agents. The lawyer for indignant part of the procedure, believing that “France would do better to denounce the crimes committed by the Macky Sall regime rather than try to cover up its involvement”. It is “scandalous that a French technical adviser remained with the Senegalese Minister of the Interior throughout this period and participated in the organization of repression” in Senegal, he added to AFP. This report “confirms that the information that has been revealed is true “, he estimated.
Accused of “crimes and misdemeanors” by the Senegalese state
24 hours later, the Senegalese justice in turn attacks the French lawyer. This Friday, July 14 at the end of the day, she announced the launch of an international arrest warrant against him, for “crimes and misdemeanors” in connection with the troubles that occurred in early June in Senegal. “After having received the compilation of the statements, writings and posts” of the lawyer, “it was noted elements which, obviously, are likely to engage its criminal responsibility”, affirms a press release of the parquet floor of Dakar announcing “the opening of a judicial investigation”. In addition, “an arrest warrant has been requested against him”, adds the text.
Juan Branco announced on June 22 that he had filed a complaint in France and a request for an investigation at the International Criminal Court (ICC) in The Hague against Senegalese President Macky Sall for “crimes against humanity”, after the worst unrest that has known Senegal at the beginning of June for years. The collective of Ousmane Sonko’s lawyers “firmly expressed (his) strong indignation with regard to a drift of this nature against our colleague Juan Branco”, in a press release published Friday evening in Dakar, in reaction to the announcement of the Senegalese justice against their colleague. For the collective, the “only fault” of Juan Branco is “to have denounced, at the request of relatives of victims, serious crimes allegedly committed in Senegal, to have seized the competent courts to judge and condemn all people” on which “weigh presumptions”. Juan Branco’s action with international and French justice had been described as “childish and ridiculous” by the Senegalese Minister of Foreign Affairs Aïssata Tall Sall.