Senegal political tensions rise as APR denounces arrest of Pape Malick Ndour

The Alliance for the Republic (APR), led by former President Macky Sall, has voiced fierce condemnation following the detention of its member, Pape Malick Ndour, in connection with a court-ordered arrest warrant tied to the PRODAC case.

In an official statement, the party described Ndour’s arrest as a flagrant violation of democratic principles, accusing Prime Minister Ousmane Sonko of orchestrating what it calls a ‘hostage-taking’ against a respected public servant. The APR emphasized that the accusations stem from a 2018 report by the Inspectorate General of Finances (IGF), despite Ndour’s appointment to PRODAC only in June 2019—rendering the document ‘legally irrelevant’.

Legal and procedural concerns raised by the APR

The party dismissed the forensic accounting report—used as the primary basis for prosecution—as ‘non-contradictory and factually inconsistent’. It argued that the charges against Ndour are trivial in nature and that his detention sets a dangerous precedent for judicial overreach.

The APR highlighted its alarm over the erosion of fundamental rights, including due process and the presumption of innocence, warning that such actions risk ‘criminalizing political opposition’ and silencing dissent. The party condemned what it perceives as a ‘systematic pattern’ of using pretrial detention in cases lacking credible evidence.

Demands for immediate release and accountability

In a resolute stance, the APR pledged unwavering support for Ndour, his family, and legal team, urging party members to remain ‘vigilant and united’ against any attempt to undermine democratic values. The party held the government fully responsible for Ndour’s safety and demanded his ‘immediate and unconditional release’.

The APR concluded by reaffirming its commitment to justice, declaring its solidarity with all victims of injustice and expressing confidence that ‘right will ultimately prevail over arbitrariness’.