The Alliance pour la République (APR), led by former President Macky Sall, has voiced profound outrage following the arrest of its member, Pape Malick Ndour, in connection with a court-issued detention warrant tied to the PRODAC case.
Government accused of weaponizing justice
In an official statement, the APR directly implicated Prime Minister Ousmane Sonko, accusing him of publicly labeling the arrest a “hostage-taking” act and positioning him as the alleged mastermind behind the move. The party argues that the accusations stem from a purported 2018 report by the Inspection Générale des Finances (IGF)—a timeline that contradicts Ndour’s official appointment to PRODAC in June 2019. According to the APR, this discrepancy undermines the legal validity of the proceedings entirely.
Procedural flaws and rights violations
The APR condemns the use of preventive detention in this case, describing the charges as “banal to the point of absurdity” and highlighting what it calls a pattern of systematic recourse to liberty-depriving measures in politically motivated cases. It further criticizes the reliance on a non-contradictory accounting expert report, dismissing it as riddled with “weak assertions that distort reality”.
Of particular concern to the party is the alleged fragility of procedural safeguards, including the presumption of innocence and the right to a fair trial. The APR warns that this case sets a dangerous precedent, where “justice is being instrumentalized to criminalize political opposition and intimidate leaders”.
Call for immediate release and accountability
The APR has pledged unwavering, unreserved support to Ndour, his family, legal team, and all party members, urging them to remain united and vigilant against what it terms “attacks on democratic principles and fundamental freedoms”. The party holds the government fully accountable for Ndour’s physical and moral integrity, demanding his immediate and unconditional release.
Concluding its statement, the APR reaffirmed its commitment to standing alongside all victims of injustice, with the conviction that “right will ultimately prevail over arbitrariness”.
