On February 6, 2021, Senegal plunged into legal and political turmoil. Adji Sarr, employee of the Sweet Beauty SPA salon, accuses Ousmane Sonko, leader of the Pastef party, of rape at gunpoint and death threats. A complaint which, for more than three years, shook the country and deeply marked the national political landscape.
From the first hours of this affair, tension rises. A declared candidate for the 2024 presidential election, Ousmane Sonko was quickly summoned by the senior judge on March 3, 2021. That day, escorted by a crowd of supporters, he left his home in the Cité Keur Gorgui to go to court. However, the situation deteriorates. Arrested for “disturbing public order”, he was placed under judicial supervision after days of violent riots. These demonstrations, which shook Senegal, caused human losses and considerable material damage, until Pastef came to power on March 24.
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More than three years after the events, the Adji Sarr affair continues to fuel debate. A new declaration recently reignited discussions. During an interview with DND TV, Serigne Mbacké Ndiaye, former minister under the regime of Abdoulaye Wade, made revelations about the mediation efforts led by Madiambal Diagne. The latter, an influential journalist and former president of the Union Internationale de la Presse Francophone (UPF), would have worked to defuse the crisis.
According to Serigne Mbacké Ndiaye, Madiambal Diagne played a key role in an attempt at an amicable resolution of the Sweet Beauty affair, even before it took on a national scale. “I have proof that Madiambal Diagne was one of the people who worked so that Ousmane Sonko had no problem in this affair, just like Macky Sall,” he said.
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Serigne Mbacké Ndiaye says he himself participated in these discussions. “It was in this room that I met Ousmane Sonko. Before his arrival, I called Madiambal Diagne, who assured me that he would do everything to resolve this problem quickly. He also advised me to contact President Macky Sall to inform him. I followed his advice, and Macky Sall told me the same thing,” he added.
It also reveals that the Minister of Justice at the time, Me Malick Sall, played a role in the public outbreak of the affair. “During a videoconference council of ministers, Me Malick Sall informed the President of the matter. It was at that moment that Macky Sall became aware of it, while Madiambal Diagne was already aware and was trying to calm the situation,” explained Serigne Mbacké Ndiaye.
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