The Alliance pour la République (APR) has voiced profound outrage over the detention of its member Pape Malick Ndour, following a court order linked to the PRODAC case. In a sharply worded statement, the party—once led by former President Macky Sall—directly pointed to Prime Minister Ousmane Sonko as the architect behind what it calls a calculated move to undermine APR.

The party argues that the accusations stem from a disputed 2018 report by the Inspection Générale des Finances (IGF), despite Pape Malick Ndour’s appointment to PRODAC not occurring until June 2019. The APR contends that such a timeline renders the legal foundation for his detention flimsy at best, asserting that the charges are built on weak, non-contradictory accounting expertise that contradicts actual events.

Political persecution or legal accountability?

The APR dismissed the allegations against Pape Malick Ndour as banal and unsubstantiated, warning that his arrest sets a dangerous precedent for the erosion of due process and individual freedoms. The party condemned what it describes as a systematic reliance on custodial measures in cases where fair trial guarantees appear severely compromised.

Highlighting the gravity of the situation, the APR emphasized that the decision to detain Pape Malick Ndour rests on superficial, contradictory, or even fabricated evidence, raising serious concerns about the integrity of the judicial process. The party framed the arrest as an attack not just on an individual but on the very principles of presumption of innocence and democratic opposition.

A call to defend democratic values

In a resolute stance, the APR pledged unwavering support for Pape Malick Ndour, his family, legal team, and all party members, urging them to remain vigilant and united against what it terms an attempt to criminalize dissent. The party held the Government solely responsible for any harm inflicted upon him and demanded his immediate, unconditional release.

The APR concluded by reaffirming its commitment to standing alongside all victims of injustice, expressing confidence that justice will ultimately prevail over arbitrary actions.