A French Court of Appeal has delivered a “partially favorable” ruling on the extradition request for Madiambal Diagne, a prominent Senegalese journalist and government critic wanted by authorities in Senegal. Senegal issued an international arrest warrant for Diagne in September, accusing him of financial crimes including fraud and money laundering tied to public procurement contracts. The allegations relate to his business dealings with state institutions claims his legal team firmly denies.
After being summoned by Senegalese authorities, Diagne travelled to France, saying he trusted the independence of the French judiciary and sought due process under the rule of law. In a statement following the ruling, he stressed that the decision was made by the judiciary, not the French government, and vowed to exhaust all legal remedies before drawing conclusions. His lawyer, Vincent Brengarth, questioned the context of the ruling, arguing it was “hard to believe” it came without diplomatic pressure. He pointed to warnings from Dakar that it could suspend judicial cooperation agreements if Diagne and other nationals were not extradited.
Diagne’s defence team, which also includes lawyers Ousmane Thiam and Philippine Vaganay, has filed an appeal with the Court of Cassation, France’s highest court for judicial review. While such an appeal does not automatically halt extradition proceedings, it allows the defense to challenge the legal reasoning and procedural safeguards applied by the appellate court. The case has drawn attention in Senegal, where Diagne is known for his outspoken commentary on governance and accountability. Observers say the outcome could test judicial cooperation between Paris and Dakar, as well as broader debates over press freedom and political dissent.
