Gambiaj.com – (DAKAR, Senegal) – A ruling by the Commercial Court in Dakar has strengthened the position of former Senegalese energy minister, who also has Gambian origins, Samuel Sarr, in the ongoing power struggle among shareholders of West African Energy (WAE).
The court on March 17 ruled in favour of Afrinvest, the company represented by Sarr, by annulling the minutes of a January 20, 2025 board meeting whose decisions had been strongly contested by the WAE director-general.
Court Annuls Contested Board Decisions.
The disputed meeting had been convened by Moustapha Ndiaye and focused on two key decisions affecting the management of the company: relocating WAE’s headquarters and authorising the signing of a cash advance agreement.
By cancelling the meeting’s minutes, the Commercial Court effectively invalidated those decisions that formed the basis of Samuel Sarr’s legal troubles. The court also ordered Ndiaye and several companies, including Groupe Citaf International, Locafrique Holding, and Senelec, to bear the legal costs of the case.
Legal Momentum Builds for Samuel Sarr
The ruling marks a significant turning point in the corporate and legal battle surrounding WAE and appears to shift the balance in Sarr’s favor.
Sarr, who serves as WAE’s shareholder and managing director, has consistently challenged Ndiaye’s legitimacy as chairman of the board. That dispute partly underpins criminal proceedings previously launched against him.
In November 2024, Sarr was placed in custody following the legal battle but was later granted provisional release. His release came with strict conditions, including house arrest and the use of an electronic monitoring bracelet while investigations continued.
The latest court decision adds to an earlier legal victory for Sarr when the indictment chamber annulled an order sending him to trial on procedural grounds.
Sarr’s lawyers say the recent ruling further weakens the legitimacy of management decisions taken by the opposing side in the dispute, potentially reshaping control dynamics within West African Energy as the legal battle continues.
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