Ousmane Sonko presses for judicial clarity on land allocations

The President of the National Assembly, Ousmane Sonko, is seeking comprehensive details regarding the scope of the judicial proceedings mentioned by the Minister of Justice. These proceedings pertain to specific land allocation operations, which are also the subject of a proposed parliamentary inquiry commission. Without sufficient evidence to confirm that the existing judicial procedure encompasses all relevant facts, the legislative body intends to proceed with its own investigations.

During Thursday’s plenary session, where six proposals for creating parliamentary inquiry commissions were ratified, Ousmane Sonko elaborated on the two responses he received from the Justice Minister. He affirmed that if more precise information about the judicial procedure concerning these matters is not provided, the National Assembly will be compelled to continue its work through parliamentary inquiry commissions.

Ousmane Sonko clarified that the initial communication from the Minister detailed a judicial investigation focused on land allocations near the airport, specifically around the pilgrim’s hangar area. Deeming this information inadequate, he confirmed having requested further specifics in a written letter. Subsequently, a second response indicated that an investigation had been conducted by the National Gendarmerie’s research section, initiated at the request of the financial prosecutor. The report from this particular investigation has reportedly already been finalized.

However, Ousmane Sonko expressed his concern that this judicial procedure might not cover the entirety of the land allocation operations targeted by the resolution proposal, especially those involving the coastal zone. It is a fundamental principle that an ongoing judicial procedure concerning the same facts can impede the establishment or continuation of parliamentary inquiry commissions. Therefore, the immediate challenge lies in accurately defining the precise boundaries of the current judicial process. Ousmane Sonko reiterated that if the National Assembly does not receive more comprehensive clarifications, it will proceed with its own work. This commitment suggests that the parliamentary inquiry commission could continue its investigations into any land allocation operations not explicitly covered by the existing judicial procedure.