Gambiaj.com – (DAKAR, Senegal) – Samuel Sarr, a former Minister of Energy in Senegal and current Director General of West African Energy (WAE), has been charged with embezzlement and misuse of company assets following an investigation by the Colobane Gendarmerie Research Section. The case revolves around allegations of an 8 billion FCFA embezzlement tied to WAE, a key consortium in Senegal’s power sector.

Sarr, who also served as Director General of Senegal’s national electricity company (SENELEC), was apprehended on Friday evening at Blaise Diagne International Airport (AIBD) upon returning from an overseas trip. He was taken into custody by airport police and transferred to Dakar for further questioning.

On Monday, the former minister appeared before a prosecutor at the Dakar courthouse to determine whether he will be remanded or released on bail pending trial. The allegations against him are linked to his role as head of WAE, a consortium critical to Senegal’s electricity production and distribution. Notably, SENELEC holds a 15% stake in WAE, underscoring the public interest in the case.

The charges have drawn significant attention due to Sarr’s high-profile career and the strategic importance of WAE to Senegal’s energy infrastructure.

Sarr’s case also resonates across borders due to his Gambian maternal roots. Legal experts suggest that the investigation could prompt greater scrutiny of governance practices within Senegal’s energy sector, given its pivotal role in the economy.

Further updates are anticipated as the prosecutor decides whether to proceed with pretrial detention or grant bail to the former minister.