Gambiaj.com – (DAKAR, Senegal) — The mysterious death of former Senegalese Minister of Finance Mamadou Moustapha Ba, once accused by Prime Minister Ousmane Sonko of manipulating economic data, has taken a darker turn, as the Dakar prosecutor announced on Sunday that Ba’s death may have been due to unnatural causes.

The prosecutor’s statement, shared in a press release obtained by The Gambia Journal (See at bottom of article), cites autopsy results that “revealed several elements likely to attest that the death is not natural.”

This revelation comes as a shock to Senegalese citizens, already troubled by the circumstances surrounding Ba’s death. Just days before his passing, Ba had faced public accusations from Sonko, who alleged that the former minister had inflated Senegal’s economic data to present a more favorable image to international financial partners.

Ba’s unexpected death has now left those allegations unanswered, leaving a void in his side of the story and raising serious concerns over possible foul play.

The prosecutor’s office, acting swiftly, ordered the autopsy on Saturday, seeking clarity on Ba’s cause of death. The findings, while not fully disclosed, have prompted an official investigation, and authorities have decided to delay the release of Ba’s body to his family, halting funeral arrangements pending further inquiry.

“For the purposes of an inquest that requires additional investigative actions, the formalities for handing over the body and burial are postponed to a later date,” the prosecutor stated, signaling the intensity of the inquiry.

As the investigation unfolds, speculation continues to build, particularly around Ba’s final days and his recent tensions with the current administration.

Many in Dakar are left questioning whether the circumstances of his death could be politically motivated, given Ba’s role in steering Senegal’s financial policies under prior administrations.

The prosecutor has yet to provide further information about the exact nature of the autopsy’s findings or potential suspects in the investigation, but the case has quickly become a high-profile matter in Dakar. The former minister’s family, already grappling with the sudden loss, now faces an extended wait before being able to proceed with Ba’s burial, adding to their distress.

Senegalese authorities have remained tight-lipped about the ongoing investigation, though public interest continues to grow as citizens await answers in this unexpected and tragic case.