The prosecutor’s office in Dakar has initiated a formal investigation targeting Thierno Lô, a former minister and prominent member of the Alliance for the Republic (APR), following the controversial claims about the failed candidacy of former president Macky Sall for a United Nations position. The case has been assigned to the city’s specialized urban safety unit to conduct the probe, as confirmed by local reports.

Dakar prosecutor takes charge of the investigation

The probe was launched by the prosecutor at the Dakar Court of First Instance. Detectives from the urban safety division—a branch of the judicial police—have been tasked with uncovering the truth behind the alleged promotion of the former Senegalese head of state to a UN role. Thierno Lô, a longtime ally of Macky Sall and former government minister, has come under scrutiny as his public statements drew the attention of prosecutors.

The decision to open the inquiry followed the emergence of disputed reports suggesting Macky Sall had been nominated for an international position. What began as a media controversy swiftly escalated into a legal matter, with the public prosecutor deeming it necessary to verify the validity of the claims and their sources.

Former APR leader Thierno Lô in the crosshairs

As a key figure in the party founded by Macky Sall, Thierno Lô served multiple ministerial roles during the 12-year tenure of the APR. His upcoming interrogation signals another step in the ongoing judicial pressure on officials from the previous administration since the political transition. Several former ministers and senior officials have already been questioned, implicated, or subjected to precautionary measures in separate cases ranging from public fund mismanagement to infrastructure contract disputes.

The former minister’s questioning aims to trace the origins of statements regarding the supposed UN appointment of the ex-president. Authorities are seeking to determine whether these remarks were part of routine political communication or if they could be classified as the dissemination of false information—a criminal offense under Senegalese law and a recurring issue in contentious public debates.

A politically charged case in Dakar

Beyond its legal implications, the case carries significant political weight. Macky Sall, who left office in April 2024 and now resides abroad, remains a key figure for sections of the Senegalese opposition. The current administration, led by President Bassirou Diomaye Faye and Prime Minister Ousmane Sonko, has made accountability a cornerstone of its agenda. Multiple legal proceedings have been launched against the former government, amid ongoing discussions about the separation of powers and the independence of the judiciary.

The matter also has diplomatic undertones. Any discussion of a UN position for a former head of state inherently involves interactions with the UN Secretariat and Dakar’s diplomatic partners. If the investigation confirms the allegations as baseless, it could be seen as an attempt to influence domestic politics by invoking an international framework.

The next steps remain unclear. Thierno Lô and other potential witnesses have not disclosed their defense strategies, and the prosecutor’s office has not outlined the timeline for further hearings or the specific charges under consideration. The case’s progression will be closely watched in Dakar and across West African capitals, offering insights into Senegal’s post-transition power dynamics.