Guest of the RFM, the president of the UMS, Ousmane Chimère Diouf wanted to clarify the role of the executive power in the conduct of criminal policy: “Criminal policy is indisputable. It is defined by the government. All the magistrates know it. But it should be remembered that, despite this, its application goes to the magistrates. Everyone has their role to play, “he said. The magistrate insisted on the independence of the legal corps in the exercise of his functions: “The magistrate knows when and where his role begins. Once it started, politics no longer has to immerse itself. »»
By the voice of its president, the magistrates’ Union welcomed the clarity of the message issued by their supervisory minister, during the plenary session of February 21, 2025 in the National Assembly, held as part of the news issues addressed to Prime Minister Ousmane Sonko.
Arrested by a deputy on the slowness of certain judicial files, Ousmane Diagne had replied that “the time of justice is not that of men”. A position shared by the UMS: “This is what we were taught. Justice does not rhyme with precipitation or political calculation. No magistrate will accept to be put under pressure to accomplish his mission, “said the president of the UMS, recalling his attachment to the total independence of justice,” whatever the origins of the pressures “.
Also reacting to the accusations of instrumentalization of justice by political power, Ousmane Chimère Diouf wanted to distinguish the roles: “We must make a distinction between the prosecution and the siege. The minister has no prerogative on the magistrates of the siege. He has it on the prosecution, it is true, because it is the latter who initiates prosecution. But once the trial is launched, this is no longer the executive. »»
Ousmane Chimère Diop concluded by denouncing a biased perception of justice: “When decisions are favorable, we speak of independence. When they are not, we shout at manipulation. It is a popular interpretation that does not reflect the reality of the judicial functioning. »»
