APR condemns pape malick ndour’s arrest as political persecution

The Alliance for the Republic (APR) has voiced fierce outrage over the arrest of its member, Pape Malick Ndour, following a court-issued detention order in the PRODAC case.

In an official statement, the party led by former President Macky Sall accused Prime Minister Ousmane Sonko of orchestrating a deliberate ploy to detain Ndour, labeling him the mastermind behind the operation.

Questionable legal grounds

The APR dismissed the accusations, which rely on a 2018 report from the General Inspectorate of Finance (IGF) as their foundation. They pointed out that Ndour was appointed to PRODAC in June 2019, rendering the report legally irrelevant to his case. The party argued that the prosecution’s case rests on a flawed, non-contradictory audit filled with weak and contradictory claims that distort reality.

The APR described the allegations against Ndour as trivial in nature, condemning the systematic use of pretrial detention in cases where fair trial guarantees appear compromised. They emphasized that such decisions, which carry severe consequences for individual freedoms, should not be based on superficial, unverified, or outright false evidence.

Defending democratic principles

Beyond Ndour’s case, the APR framed the arrest as part of a broader threat to Senegal’s democratic values, including the right to a fair trial, the presumption of innocence, and fundamental freedoms. The party warned that the situation risks establishing a dangerous precedent of criminalizing the opposition and intimidating political leaders.

The APR pledged unwavering support for Ndour, his family, legal team, and all party members, urging them to remain vigilant and united against any attempt to undermine democratic principles. They held the government fully accountable for Ndour’s physical and moral safety, demanding his immediate and unconditional release.

The party concluded by reaffirming its commitment to standing with all victims of injustice, believing justice will ultimately prevail over arbitrary actions.