Gambiaj.com – (BANJUL, The Gambia) – The legal team representing Senegalese journalist Madiambal Diagne has submitted its arguments to the Versailles Court of Appeal in France, contesting his possible extradition to Senegal. The court, after hearing both sides on November 4, 2025, adjourned the case for deliberation until November 25, when a ruling will be delivered on whether to grant the Senegalese authorities’ request or allow the journalist to remain in France.
In their brief, Diagne’s lawyers questioned the validity of the arrest warrant and warned that extraditing him to Senegal could expose him to an unfair trial. The defense team, led by French lawyer Vincent Brengarth, argued that the extradition request was riddled with procedural flaws and lacked a clearly defined offense.
“We are expecting the decision on November 25. I am optimistic regarding all the formal and substantive elements that we have put forward,” Brengarth told reporters. “There can be no grounds for anything other than a rejection of the extradition request, from both a technical and a legal point of view.”
Brengarth maintained that the French judiciary had so far acted with independence and fairness, pointing out that although Senegalese authorities have portrayed Diagne as a fugitive, French courts did not share that assessment—evidenced by his release during the proceedings.
“From a legal and technical point of view, we do not see how, as things stand, the French courts could consider that there are grounds to grant this extradition,” he said. “If they demonstrate the independence we’ve observed so far, the only logical outcome would be to reject Senegal’s request.”
The case has drawn considerable attention in Senegal and abroad, highlighting concerns about press freedom and judicial independence in the West African country. Diagne, a veteran journalist and publisher of Le Quotidien, has long been a prominent critic of the Senegalese government and has faced multiple legal challenges in recent years.
Earlier this year, Senegalese authorities issued a warrant for his arrest on allegations linked to “contempt of court” and “spreading false information,” charges his supporters describe as politically motivated.
The controversy surrounding his case has fueled broader debate about the treatment of journalists in Senegal under President Bassirou Diomaye Faye’s administration, with rights groups calling for transparency and restraint in the handling of press-related offenses.
The Versailles Court of Appeal’s upcoming ruling on November 25 will be decisive, not only for Madiambal Diagne’s personal fate but also for the broader implications it could hold for freedom of expression and judicial cooperation between France and Senegal.
