Senegal has moved to halt all extraditions to France, accusing the French government of failing to cooperate on pending legal requests.
Justice Minister Yassine Fall disclosed the decision while speaking before parliament on Thursday, saying Senegal has repeatedly sought the extradition of two of its citizens currently living in France, without success.
In response, Dakar has decided it will no longer hand over 12 individuals wanted by French authorities until Paris responds positively to Senegal’s own extradition demands.
“If people are accused of committing crimes, we detain them. We don’t act the way France does by allowing suspects to remain free,” Fall told lawmakers.
Although the justice minister did not reveal the identities of the two Senegalese nationals, the announcement follows a recent move by French courts to delay until February a decision on whether to extradite Madiambal Diagne, a prominent Senegalese media owner and outspoken critic of the government.
Diagne is wanted in Senegal over allegations of financial misconduct. French judges requested further documentation before ruling on Dakar’s request, despite Senegalese officials insisting all required evidence has already been submitted.
Diagne’s legal team has condemned Senegal’s response, describing it as “diplomatic blackmail.”
France and Senegal formalized an extradition treaty in 2021, making the current dispute a notable strain on judicial cooperation between the two countries.
