Moustapha Diakhate is in front of the bar. The former president of the coalition parliamentary group Benno Bokk Yakaar, placed under arrest after having described the Senegalese as “cursed people”, wanted to clarify the meaning of his words. He refuted the accusations against him.
“I was invited to a show and I talked about “Gallou doff dou téreu” and “Alkou”. I am accused of insults, which I have never done. For me, “Alkou” means a great misfortune or a curse. Words do not have a fixed meaning, they have uses, and I attribute a particular meaning to them. I have been told that these words have been said 27,000 times, it is not my responsibility. I am not an insulter. What I wanted to say in the show is that those who gave the majority to this party (Pastef) are harming the country, and are harming themselves, as are those who vote for them. », he said according to our colleagues at Pressafrik.
Moustapha Diakhate added: “Gallou doff dou téreu means that misfortune never comes alone. I explained that those who slipped Sonko’s ballot into the ballot box, I grant them the right to interpret my words as insults, but that is not the meaning I give them. I have not insulted anyone in my use of it. There is no insult. If you find a meaning in a dictionary that means insult, you can arrest me immediately and sentence me to life in prison, Judge.”
When the prosecutor then asked him to clarify the meaning of “Alkou” in French, he replied: “Alkou designates someone who harms themselves, or a population to whom harm has been done.” The prosecutor replies: “According to what you explain, and what I know, we did not harass the population, nor force the population to vote. In online dictionaries, in Wolof-French, “Askan bou alkou rek mokay deff” means that only the damned do this. During the minutes, you indicated that this meant “failure” (alkou), so are you talking about this 54%? “.
The former member of the APR replied: “Yes, I am talking about these 54%. They voted, and I told them they made a bad choice.” The prosecutor insists: “Are you talking about Pastef? “. Moustapha Diakhate responds: “During the interrogation, I clarified that I did not know who had voted for whom. I’m just talking to those who voted.”
Me Amadou Sall, former Minister of Justice, intervenes: “Why did you say that the people who voted for Ousmane Sonko are “cursed”? »
Moustapha Diakhate: “I said it because there were tragic events: deaths, ransacking and destruction of property. We elected a President of the Republic and a Prime Minister who went so far as to declare that he has the right to order the arrest of someone as he wishes, which is serious. I am the first to criticize Ousmane Sonko. »
The black dress added: “Did you hear Sonko say that those who voted for the APR are thieves? »
Moustapha Diakhate: “Of course, I heard it. But I did not call for violence or mortal combat. My words did not lead to the deaths of more than 80 young people or the destruction of businesses or gas stations, as was the case. I am the victim of a political purge. »
