Civil court postpones Senegal property dispute case

The civil trial involving Senegal’s former Tourism Minister Mame Mbaye Niang and Prime Minister Ousmane Sonko over the ownership of a villa in the Cité Keur Gorgui district has been adjourned until 22 July 2026.

The legal battle centers on the alleged fraudulent transfer of a 264 m² property (lot R/17) to Sonko’s family. Niang initiated the lawsuit to overturn the transfer and reclaim the disputed asset, aiming to secure the 200 million CFA francs in damages awarded to him by the Supreme Court in a prior criminal ruling.

His legal team argues that the transfer was a calculated move to undermine Sonko’s financial obligations, shielding the villa from potential seizure. The court’s decision follows an earlier postponement, as the civil judge now awaits the submission of Niang’s counsel’s rebuttals to the defense’s written submissions.