By: Abdoulie John
In a escalating controversy blending regional justice and domestic politics, prominent Walf TV journalist Pape Sané was remanded in custody on Monday, December 8, 2025, facing charges of undermining the honor of the military and disseminating false news. He is scheduled for a summary trial on Wednesday, December 10.
The case stems from explosive allegations made by Sané following the recent arrest and extradition of Sanna Manjang, a notorious former member of ex-Gambian dictator Yahya Jammeh’s “Junglers” death squad. Manjang, accused of murder, torture, and enforced disappearances, was captured in Senegal’s Casamance region on November 29 in a joint Senegal-Gambia operation. He was handed over to Gambian authorities on December 2 and promptly charged with multiple murders, including the 2004 killing of journalist Deyda Hydara.
Sané, a former member of the security apparatus turned investigative journalist, claimed that during Manjang’s interrogation by Senegalese Gendarmerie investigators, there were deliberate efforts to fabricate links between Manjang and Senegal’s Prime Minister Ousmane Sonko, leader of the ruling PASTEF party. According to Sané, questions focused on potential ties between Manjang, Sonko, and irredentist elements in the Movement of Democratic Forces of Casamance (MFDC), a separatist group. “They desperately tried to establish a communication channel and needed Manjang to endorse their conspiracy,” Sané alleged, warning of a plot that could trigger a severe political crisis in Senegal.
Sané was summoned for questioning on December 5 at the Colobane Gendarmerie research section and detained shortly after. Prosecutors accuse him of dishonoring the security forces by making unverified claims. His arrest has sparked concerns over press freedom, especially given PASTEF’s rise to power in 2024 under President Bassirou Diomaye Faye, with Sonko as a key figure.
Manjang fled to Guinea-Bissau after Jammeh’s 2016 election defeat and had evaded capture for years. His extradition marks progress in Gambia’s transitional justice efforts.
Critics view Sané’s detention as a potential act of retaliation, while authorities insist it upholds institutional integrity.
