The corruption saga surrounding veteran Senegalese journalist Madiambal Diagne has taken a new turn, with a judge ordering the detention of his wife, two of his sons, and his marabout. They have been remanded in custody on charges of association with criminals, public funds fraud, and money laundering involving an organised group.
The move follows Diagne’s dramatic escape to France last week, despite a travel ban and arrest warrant over alleged links to Ellipse Projects International, a French company tied to questionable multi-billion CFA public contracts. Senegal’s Interior Ministry has since confirmed that he managed to leave the country during the night of September 23rd–24th, after first attempting to board a flight from Blaise Diagne International Airport, prompting the dismissal of senior airport and police officials and the issuance of an international arrest warrant.
Investigators had already swept through his close circle: one wife accused of running a company tied to Ellipse was arrested, his sons were picked up in Dakar and near the Gambian border with cash, and his marabout was detained after a compromising audio was uncovered. Now, all four have been formally charged and sent to prison.
