Having been placed under judicial control, the lawyer Juan Branco had to leave Senegalese territory yesterday night. His repatriation to France was to take place on an Air France flight, following an expulsion order issued by the Minister of the Interior, Antoine Diome. Indicted and imprisoned Sunday, August 6 in the morning in Dakar after being arrested in Mauritania, the lawyer Juan Branco was released and placed under judicial supervision yesterday Monday after a night in a cell.

A target of Senegalese justice for his support for President Macky Sall’s main opponent, he is charged with « attack, conspiracy, dissemination of false news and acts and maneuvers likely to compromise public security or cause serious political unrest » by the judge of the 2nd Investigation Cabinet of the Court of Dakar.

Sonko Evacuated to Principal: Quite a Hunger Strike!

Juan Branco was served new charges, « irregular stay » and « contempt of court », reported his Parisian lawyers, Robin Binsard, Luc Brossollet and François Gibault.

A controversial far-left activist, the lawyer also decided to remain silent and did not to allow anyone to assist him, including before the investigating judge, who charged and imprisoned him. Branco’s French lawyers described his condition as « worrying » in a statement. « He was taken out of prison this morning (yesterday) and presented to the judge who notified him of his placement under judicial supervision », said his consuls, Lawyers Robin Binsard and Yassine Bouzrou, yesterday Monday. “He is in a police station to be taken to the airport. He is exhausted but relieved to be released,” added Robin Binsard.

Follow Up on Sonko, Branco and PAN Cases from the Justice Department

Lawyer Juan Branco made a name for himself in Senegal by taking part in the defense of Ousmane Sonko. Drawing more of the spotlight on him, by announcing a complaint in France and a referral to the International Criminal Court (ICC) based in The Hague against President Macky Sall for « crimes against humanity » last June, when the country experienced its worst troubles in years. Juan Branco was still talked about after his clandestine entry into Senegalese territory by taking part as a surprise guest in the press conference of Sonko’s lawyers held a few days ago in Dakar.

Lawyer Clédor Ly, one of his Senegalese colleagues who is a member of the pool of lawyers for the leader of the dissolved party Pastef, took offense at the arrest of Juan Branco on the basis of an international arrest warrant by denouncing  » an illegal process » used to bring him back to Senegalese territory. He spoke of “kidnapping” of which the French lawyer would be a victim on Mauritanian territory by having him arrested by “men in balaclavas without any distinctive sign and who injured his wrists”.

By Amadou MBODJI / ambodji@lequotidien.sn

  • Translation by Ndey T. SOSSEH