Gambiaj.com – (DAKAR, Senegal) – At a press conference held on Monday, December 9, 2024, Barthélémy Dias, leader of the Samm sa Kaddu list during the recent legislative elections, addressed several critical issues surrounding his political career. In an emotionally charged statement, Dias spoke on the death of his bodyguard, Bassirou Diop, as well as his recent removal from the National Assembly.
Dias opened the conference by shedding light on the circumstances surrounding the death of his bodyguard, Bassirou Diop, who was arrested in Saint-Louis during clashes between his supporters and those of the opposition party, Pastef.
Dias expressed doubts over the official explanation of Diop’s death in the hospital, calling for further scrutiny of the incident. “I would like to question the Public Prosecutor of Saint-Louis,” Dias stated firmly. “I do not believe that Mr. Bassirou Diop died in the hospital, and I insist on that.” He continued to accuse the police, specifically the Brigade d’Intervention Polyvalente (BIP), of opening fire on his security team, resulting in injuries, and demanded accountability from the authorities, emphasizing that evidence was available to support his claims.
Turning to his recent expulsion from the National Assembly, Dias condemned the decision, which followed a prior legal conviction in a murder case.
The request for his removal came from Ousmane Diagne, now Minister of Justice, who had previously prosecuted the case.
Dias framed his expulsion as part of a broader political strategy by the current regime to suppress opposition ahead of future elections. “What is going on is not the National Assembly, but something else,” Dias declared. “Senegal is a republic, and we have all chosen to live in a republic. Those who want to live in something else, it engages them.”
Despite his conviction and expulsion, Dias insisted that he had no intention of taking his seat in the 15th legislature. He explained that he had already planned to resign but would nonetheless challenge the legitimacy of his removal through an appeal. “I will file an appeal to refute the legitimacy of this removal,” he confirmed.
Dias also criticized statements made by the Minister of the Interior, who suggested that his expulsion was due to a final conviction. “I remind him that in Senegal, I am not the only politician to have recently been definitively sentenced,” Dias remarked, questioning why he was singled out.
Dias also addressed rumors that the current regime was plotting to remove him from his position as mayor of Dakar, an action he deemed “unthinkable” under current legislation. Referring to Article 135 of the General Code of Communities, which allows for the dismissal of a mayor only in the event of a conviction for a crime, Dias rejected the idea of his removal, as his conviction was for a misdemeanor, not a crime. “I won’t go any further, but we won’t give in a millimeter,” he asserted, vowing to stand firm against any attempts to undermine his position.
Dias’ statements highlighted his defiance in the face of what he described as political persecution, signaling his commitment to continuing his fight against what he perceives as a politically motivated campaign against him.
