Ousmane Sonko, President of the National Assembly, is seeking detailed clarifications regarding the scope of the judicial procedure mentioned by the Justice Minister concerning land allocation operations. These operations are the subject of a proposed parliamentary inquiry commission. Without sufficient evidence to confirm that the judicial process encompasses all relevant facts, the legislative body plans to continue its own investigations.

During the Thursday plenary session, where six resolutions proposing inquiry commissions were ratified, Sonko reiterated receiving two communications from the Justice Minister. He firmly stated, “Should we not obtain more comprehensive details on any judicial procedure pertaining to these matters, the National Assembly will be compelled to proceed with its work through parliamentary inquiry commissions.”

Initial responses from the Ministry of Justice

The President of the National Assembly clarified that the Minister’s first communication referenced a judicial investigation into land parcelling activities near the airport, specifically around the pilgrims’ hangar. Deeming this information inadequate, Sonko confirmed he had formally requested additional particulars. “I specifically asked him in the letter I sent,” he explained. A subsequent, second response reportedly detailed an investigation undertaken by the National Gendarmerie’s Research Section, initiated at the financial prosecutor’s request, with its report already finalized.

Parliamentary inquiry to continue if scope is limited

However, Ousmane Sonko expressed concerns that the current judicial procedure might not encompass all land allocation operations targeted by the proposed resolution, particularly those impacting the coastal region. It is a fundamental principle that the initiation of a judicial process covering the same facts can impede the establishment or continuation of parliamentary inquiry commissions. The critical challenge now is to precisely delineate the scope of the ongoing judicial proceedings. Sonko warned that “if we do not receive more extensive clarifications,” the National Assembly would press ahead with its work. This would allow the inquiry commission to continue its investigations into any operations not adequately covered by the existing judicial process.