Senegal has been rocked by a high-profile legal and security scandal following the departure of journalist Madiambal Diagne to France, despite a judicial ban preventing him from leaving the country.
The Interior Ministry has announced the precautionary suspension of two senior National Police officials, amid growing questions over how Diagne was able to bypass border controls.
The ministry confirmed that the former director of the Criminal Investigations Division (DIC) and the special commissioner of Blaise Diagne International Airport have been relieved of their duties.
“This precautionary measure aims to establish responsibilities in the way Madiambal Diagne was able to pass through the controls during the night of September 23 to 24, despite the blocking instructions transmitted at all levels,” the statement said. Internal investigations will determine whether there were failings or complicity, with additional sanctions possible.
An international arrest warrant has been issued for Diagne by the financial judicial pool’s college of investigating judges. Via his Twitter account, Diagne confirmed he is in France and indicated he intends to “return in a few days” to face justice.
Meanwhile, several members of his family, including two sons and his wife, have been arrested in Dakar as part of the ongoing probe. The investigation focuses on suspicious financial flows estimated at 21 billion CFA francs, reported by the National Financial Information Processing Unit (CENTIF).
Madiambal Diagne, founder of the Avenir Communication group and publisher of Le Quotidien, is a well-known media figure who has often taken critical stances against the authorities. This case adds a complex political and media dimension to an already sensitive affair, highlighting potential weaknesses in border surveillance and the enforcement of judicial decisions.
Observers warn that the incident could undermine public confidence in Senegal’s security institutions and international cooperation mechanisms. The Interior Ministry stressed its commitment to the presumption of innocence while vowing to address any shortcomings revealed by the investigation.
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