By: Abdoulie John
Senegal has announced the suspension of all extraditions to France, marking a significant escalation in bilateral tensions over judicial cooperation. Justice Minister Yassine Fall declared the decision before parliament on Thursday, accusing France of failing to reciprocate in extradition requests involving two Senegalese nationals sought by Dakar for alleged financial irregularities.
“We have decided to suspend all extraditions to France until that country responds favorably to our requests,” Fall stated, emphasizing the principle of reciprocity underpinning the nations’ judicial agreements. She revealed that Senegal currently holds 12 individuals wanted by French authorities, but will not hand them over amid the impasse.
The move comes weeks after a French appeals court postponed a ruling on Senegal’s request to extradite prominent media magnate Madiambal Diagne, a vocal critic of President Bassirou Diomaye Faye’s government. Diagne, facing charges of money laundering and suspicious financial transfers in Senegal, fled to France earlier this year. French judges sought additional assurances from Dakar on the case’s details and fair-trial guarantees, delaying the decision until February 2026.
Fall did not name the two Senegalese citizens whose extradition Senegal seeks, though reports suggest one may involve a business person under investigation for fraud. Critics, including Diagne’s legal team, have labeled Senegal’s suspension as “diplomatic blackmail.”
Under President Faye, elected in 2024 on promises of anti-corruption reforms and greater sovereignty, Senegal has adopted a more assertive stance toward its former colonial power. While ties remain intact—France and Senegal renewed extradition and judicial assistance conventions in 2021—relations have cooled compared to the era of Faye’s predecessor, Macky Sall.
This dispute echoes broader regional shifts, with several West African states distancing themselves from France amid anti-colonial sentiment. However, experts note Senegal’s approach avoids outright rupture, focusing on equitable cooperation.
The suspension highlights growing demands for accountability in Senegal, where Faye’s administration is pursuing probes into alleged embezzlement by prior regimes.
