As President of the National Assembly, Ousmane Sonko is seeking precise details regarding the scope of the judicial proceedings mentioned by the Minister of Justice. These proceedings pertain to land allocation operations that are the subject of a parliamentary inquiry commission proposal. Lacking sufficient evidence to confirm that the judicial procedure encompasses all relevant facts, the parliamentary body in Senegal intends to continue its investigations.

After the plenary session, which focused on approving six resolutions to create inquiry commissions, Ousmane Sonko explained his receipt of two communications from the Minister of Justice, also the Keeper of the Seals. “If we do not receive more comprehensive clarifications on any judicial procedure concerning these matters, the National Assembly will be compelled to proceed with its work through the parliamentary inquiry commissions,” he declared.

The National Assembly President clarified that the Minister’s initial response referred to a judicial investigation concerning land allocations near the airport, specifically around the pilgrims’ hangar. Considering this information inadequate, Sonko affirmed that he had requested additional clarifications. “I specifically requested this in the letter I sent to him,” he elaborated. A subsequent response reportedly indicated an investigation conducted by the National Gendarmerie’s Research Section, initiated at the financial prosecutor’s behest. The report from this inquiry has supposedly already been completed.

However, Ousmane Sonko believes this judicial procedure does not appear to encompass all land allocation operations targeted by the proposed resolution, particularly those affecting the coastal zone. Crucially, the initiation of a judicial procedure covering the same facts typically impedes the establishment or continuation of parliamentary inquiry commissions. The current challenge, therefore, lies in accurately defining the scope of the ongoing judicial process. “Without further specific details,” Ousmane Sonko warned, “the National Assembly will proceed with its work.” Consequently, the inquiry commission may continue its investigations into operations not covered by the judicial procedure.