The French Ministry of Foreign Affairs has made a report to the judicial authorities after the revelation by lawyer Juan Branco of the identity of officials of the French Embassy in Senegal, he announced to Agence France-Presse (AFP) Thursday, July 13.
The Quai d’Orsay “has become aware of the serious and unfounded accusations made by Juan Branco, and of his recent publications disclosing information of a professional nature targeting French agents stationed in Senegal”, it was specified from the same source, confirming information from Europe 1 radio on Wednesday.
“In view of Mr. Branco’s actions, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has (…) made the necessary reports to the competent authorities. It is up to these authorities to assess the follow-up to be given. Asked by AFP, the Paris prosecutor’s office confirmed on Thursday that it had received this report, which is currently being examined.
Juan Branco, one of the lawyers of Senegalese opponent Ousmane Sonko, filed a complaint in France and a request for an investigation at the International Criminal Court (ICC) in The Hague against Senegalese President Macky Sall for “crimes against the ‘humanity’, after Senegal’s worst unrest in years.
Protection of its agents
The French ministry criticizes Mr. Branco in particular for having published the names of several State agents, as well as their telephone number, e-mail addresses and registration number.
“Wherever the integrity of agents is threatened or attacked on the occasion or because of their function, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs grants them functional protection”, explained the Quai d’Orsay, recalling that it was required to an obligation to protect its agents.
The lawyer, for his part, was indignant at the procedure, believing that “France would do better to denounce the crimes committed by the Macky Sall regime rather than try to cover up its involvement”. It is “scandalous that a French technical adviser remained with the Senegalese interior minister throughout this period and participated in the organization of the repression” in Senegal, he added to AFP. This report “confirms that the information we have revealed is true”, he said.
The two-year prison sentence of opponent Ousmane Sonko had caused serious unrest in Senegal, officially killing sixteen, at least thirty according to the opposition.
Mr. Sonko cries conspiracy to exclude him from the presidential election of February 2024 and his party estimates that more than 300 the number of “political detainees”. The authorities deny both charges. On July 3, Macky Sall finally announced that he would not run for a third presidential term next year.