Gambiaj.com – (DAKAR, Senegal) – The Senegalese authorities have barred Mansour Faye, the mayor of Saint-Louis and brother of former First Lady Marième Faye Sall, from leaving the country in what he denounces as an act of political retaliation. The travel restriction, imposed on Monday, March 10, 2025, prevented Faye from boarding an Air France flight at Blaise-Diagne International Airport (AIBD) for a pilgrimage to Mecca.

In a Facebook post, Faye described the move as unjust and arbitrary. “I would like to inform the national and international opinion that I was unfairly forbidden to embark on the flight of Air France for Jeddah via Paris to go on the ‘Petit Pilgrimage’ to Mecca,” he wrote. According to him, when he requested an explanation, a police officer cited “higher authority” as the reason, offering no further details.

Faye believes the restriction is a politically motivated attempt to silence him. “To my knowledge, I am not the subject of any procedure, investigation, or accusation,” he insisted. Expressing his outrage, he warned, “If this is about politics, this authority will continue to suffer! Let them know that I stand tall, unwavering in my convictions.”

His sister and ex-first lady Marième Faye Sall denounces ‘unacceptable pressure.’

Former First Lady Marième Faye Sall fiercely condemned the travel restriction, describing it as part of an ongoing campaign of intimidation against her family. Speaking on RFM, she accused the authorities of unfairly targeting her brother.

“My big brother, Amadou Mansour Faye, was about to board a flight to see our sick mother when he was stopped. He did nothing wrong! For nine months, they have continued to intimidate him, but this is far from over,” she declared.

Her anger was further fueled by a past incident in which their mother was reportedly summoned by the gendarmerie—a move she deemed intolerable. “This only happens in Senegal! Authorities are barring citizens from traveling without a court order. They should know that only God is the ultimate judge. We will not back down!” she vowed.

Political Tensions Rise Amid Travel Bans

The restriction on Faye comes amid a broader trend of travel bans imposed on figures associated with Senegal’s previous government. However, no official charges or legal proceedings have been publicly announced against him. The lack of transparency surrounding the decision has fueled speculation that the measure is politically motivated, aimed at stifling opposition voices.

With Marième Faye Sall vowing to resist and Mansour Faye pledging to challenge the decision, the episode adds to the mounting tensions in Senegal’s political landscape. Whether the authorities will provide further clarification or maintain their stance remains to be seen.