Gambiaj.com – (DAKAR, Senegal) – A Dakar court has rejected a request to strip former Senegalese Prime Minister Amadou Ba and former Budget Minister Birima Mangara of their parliamentary immunity, dealing a blow to efforts by the public prosecutor to pursue legal action against them. The decision, delivered on Thursday by the judge of the 2nd cabinet of the Dakar court, means that both officials remain shielded from prosecution for now.

Amadou Ba, who served as prime minister under former President Macky Sall and was the ruling coalition’s unsuccessful candidate in the March 2024 presidential election, is reportedly implicated in a case related to the expropriation of land for public use. The disputed land titles—nº5058/NGA, 13833/NGA, and 1838/NGA—were allocated for the benefit of SOFICO, a company at the center of the case.

The Case Aiming Amadou Bâ

The heirs of the disputed titles have denounced what they consider to be fraudulent irregularities in the expropriation process and have mandated Matar Diene to file a complaint.

Following a preliminary investigation by Dakar’s Urban Security (SU) in 2022, the prosecution opened a judicial inquiry against X for alleged offenses, including forgery and the use of forged documents in both authentic and private writings, fraud involving public funds, and complicity. The case was referred to the second cabinet, where it has remained pending until now.

The public prosecutor recently submitted an additional indictment to the 2nd cabinet of the Dakar court, effectively reviving the proceedings.

This indictment names Tahirou Sarr, along with other individuals whose identities have not yet been disclosed. The prosecution is not only seeking their indictment but also requesting their placement under a detention warrant.

As part of the proceedings, the public prosecutor has asked the investigating judge to initiate the necessary steps to lift the parliamentary immunity of deputies Amadou Ba and Birimi Mangara, both former ministers of finance and budget.

Additionally, several individuals have been questioned, including Matar Diene, Tahirou Sarr, tax inspector Amadou Diop, retired inspectors Dame Fall and Meissa Ndiaye, as well as tax controller Mouhamadou Moustapha Gaye.

Amadou Bâ Remains Combative

While the legal proceedings continue, Amadou Ba remains politically active. On Wednesday, he held a press conference in Dakar to announce a nationwide tour aimed at expressing gratitude to his supporters and mobilizing his political base. “This tour will also be an opportunity to strengthen unity, cohesion, and mobilization around my common vision,” he said.

Ba also used the platform to address pressing national issues, calling on the government to act urgently in response to the economic and social difficulties facing Senegalese citizens. “The suffering of the most vulnerable populations cannot be ignored. Acting and acting now is an imperative necessity,” he urged.

The former prime minister further criticized what he described as attempts to stifle press freedom and suppress political opposition. “Freedom of expression is not negotiable,” he declared, condemning the “arbitrary and unjustified arrests of political opponents.” He also denounced the recent revocation of Barthélemy Dias’s mandate as mayor of Dakar, calling it “a serious attack on the popular will and the very foundation of local democracy.”

Ba’s remarks signal his continued role as a vocal opposition figure in Senegalese politics, even as legal and political uncertainties loom over his future.