« After twelve days of deprivation of liberty, I reaffirm here my commitment to working for the development of my country, hence my conviction“, declared Bougane Guèye Dany, this Monday, November 4.
Facing the press, the president of “Gueum Sa Bopp Les Jambars” and candidate on the “Samm Sa Kaddu” list did not miss the regime, following his incarceration in Tambacounda. He claims to have been a victim “ illegal arrests” , of ” arbitrary detentions« , « ban on free movement » in his country.
The entire statement from Bougane Guèye Dany:
There is neither winner nor loser in last Wednesday’s trial in Tamba. Justice has just proven that it remains the last bastion for respecting our individual freedoms, often threatened by political initiatives.
This must be denounced and, like a sentinel, we will be there to fight the arbitrariness embodied by this revenger of the political scene and his talibés. He confuses his hats as Prime Minister and party leader. His current position allows him access to classified state files, which he attempts to manipulate dangerously.
It was like this at Bakel. On a national road without signposting, as we are accustomed to seeing, on the occasion of each outing of the Head of State, his Minister of the Interior, the boss of the gendarmerie and the prosecutor of Tamba Aliou Dia , deployed all their energy, on instructions from their leader, to apply a political decision, illegal in violation of the Constitution, against my person. They all acted like real Pastef activists to put me in prison.
The press release sanctioning my arrest is full of untruths and all the videos prove it. I do not rule out, with my lawyers, filing a complaint against the gendarmerie.
Despite this injustice, I acted as a responsible man, without using fanciful subterfuges to escape Justice, as did this cheating and timid person from the Cité Keur Gorgui.
I am known for my humanist actions across the country to help my compatriots. Where was Ousmane SONKO when, in 2012, I mobilized 500 million to help people in distress due to floods? Certainly in the nebulous land files of his ex-mentor sued for 8 billion by the CREI. My commitment to my country and to my compatriots does not start today. And I am not seeking, either through lies or manipulation, to shed the blood of youth to gain power. I am a man of truth, of justice, a humanist committed to good causes. This is what led me to Tamba prison.
In less than a month, I was arrested twice. This is tangible proof that I am the subject of persecution orchestrated by Ousmane Sonko and PASTEF, of which I am the main target. They are trying in vain to prevent me from fully exercising my rights as an opponent.
I was the victim of illegal arrests, arbitrary detentions, and a ban on free movement in my country.
The restriction that was unfairly imposed on me was based solely on the will of the political authority and not on the law. This political act was disproportionate to the humanitarian nature of the mission of the Saam Sa Kaddu delegation, which consisted of rescuing nearly 60,000 Senegalese citizens in the Bakel department, abandoned to their fate.
The President of the Republic has never passed through this national road. And it’s embarrassing to see the National Gendarmerie Institution play a political role in the service of Pastef and against the opposition delegation, to the point of sending me to prison.
Therefore, I have instructed my lawyers to work towards petitioning the United Nations Human Rights Committee. Because the Senegalese can no longer continue to live under the regime of deprivation of freedoms and violation of human rights. I make it my personal fight.
As I left the Tambacounda MAC, I thought of the affected populations of Bakel. I express my sympathy and solidarity to them. I thought of all these detainees who often lack everything. The State has an obligation to review prison conditions to preserve their dignity.
I reiterate my thanks to the activists of the Gueum Sa Bopp movement for the strong mobilization following the hostage-taking of which I was a victim.
I also thought of the support from all sides: civil society, the political class as a whole and my running mates from Samm Sa Kaddu.
This is the place to demand the publication of the results of the investigation requested by the President of the Republic following the barbaric ransacking of the headquarters of our brother Barthélémy Diaz.
For less than that, I was assaulted by elements of the gendarmerie, then sent to prison for 12 days. So how can we understand that Abass Fall, author of public threats with incitement to the use of weapons of all kinds, is still free? It is the collapse of the rule of law in Senegal in the face of partisan and one-sided justice. Moreover, the Ministers of Justice and the Interior ended up creating a Pastéfian State.
The head of state, supreme leader of the armies, Bassirou Diomaye FAYE must take his responsibilities to put an end to the actions of Ousmane SONKO against the military and against the opponents. The Prime Minister must stop talking about public security issues in his meetings. This is irresponsibility! However, we would like to tell the Senegalese that there has never been a report incriminating an Army general. This is false! Just like, there is no bank account containing 1 trillion. This is false! Just remember that the lies of yesterday, those of today and tomorrow, are totally false:
Ousmane SONKO puts the country in danger. Our economy has collapsed. Institutions are weakened. The image of Justice is scarred. Senegal hits rock bottom! Faced with all these crises, the President of the Republic must take these responsibilities.
To save our country, on November 17, 2024, the Senegalese people must grant a majority to the “Samm Sa Kaddu” coalition to correct the error of March 24, 2024.
I take this opportunity to thank the Senegalese of the Diaspora, the Christian community, religious families and particularly the Caliph General Serigne Mountakha Mbacké Bachir, the whistleblowers, our defense and security forces, in particular the Prison Administration.
I express all my gratitude to the activists of the Gueum Sa Bopp movement who carried the fight by denouncing this hostage-taking of which I was a victim, without ever giving up.
My thanks are also addressed to all Senegalese civil society organizations without exception, to the entire political class as a whole, to my running mates of “Samm Sa Kaddu”, to the Senegalese of the Diaspora gathered around ATEL and to their allies.
I associate with these thanks all the Senegalese press, foreign media correspondents, whistleblowers, our defense and security forces and particularly the Prison Administration.
I sincerely thank and encourage the staff of the DMEDIA Group without exception. I heard about their remarkable and tireless work in the defense of Senegalese democracy and freedoms.
To the young reporters, to my sisters and brothers from all over the press, I have kept good memories of your commitment to safeguarding freedoms. I extend my highest consideration to my pool of lawyers.
To finish :
-We are launching an appeal to Senegal’s partners, on the seriously fragile situation in which our country is gradually drowning, both politically and financially.
-We call on the international community to be vigilant, because this country is experiencing an unprecedented situation which must attract all attention.
-We call on the African Union, ECOWAS, and the United Nations.
Finally, I invite Prime Minister Ousmane SONKO to:
1- Publish your asset declaration within 24 hours, you will be surprised, dear compatriots.
2- Say within 24 hours and publicly if it will criminalize homosexuality once in the National Assembly.
3- And finally, can we confirm or deny whether he holds a bank account abroad?
Thank you for your attention.
