Arrested at the Aibd, Samuel Sarr was placed in police custody at the Colobane Research Section, following a complaint from one of the shareholders of West Africa Energy of which he is the Managing Director, namely Moustapha Ndiaye. If an amount of 8 billion CFA francs is put forward, Samuel Sarr’s lawyer speaks of the sum of 2 billion CFA francs which he fully justified before the investigators. In the same case, the former Managing Director of Senelec also filed a complaint against Mr. Ndiaye, former Chairman of West Africa Energy, while the rest of the shareholders remain silent on the dispute.

Returning from Dubai, Samuel Sarr was arrested at the Blaise Diagne International Airport (Aibd) in Diass and then taken to the Research Section of the National Gendarmerie in Colobane. Immediately afterwards, he was taken into custody by the police as part of the processing of a case that resembles a war of shareholders of the company West Africa Energy (Wae), with a capital of more than 200 billion CFA francs. The former Minister of Energy and Director General of Senelec under the reign of Me Abdoulaye Wade was arrested following a complaint by Moustapha Ndiaye in the context of the management of West Africa Energy, co-founded by Samuel Sarr, Moustapha Ndiaye and other Senegalese businessmen such as Abdoulaye Dia, Arona Dia, Khadim Ba. Not to mention the actions of Senelec.

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Although the case had been dormant for several months, it was recently relaunched, with back-and-forths from both parties to the Research Section. Heard on Thursday in Colobane, the former Director General of Senelec was able to travel quietly to Dubai for a short stay. Then, he was arrested by the Border Police on his return, following an arrest notice issued by the prosecutor through the gendarmerie.

Complaint against complaint 

What caused this breach of trust between the two parties? It should be noted that West Africa Energy built a power plant at Cap des Biches as part of the “Gas to Power” project, with the upcoming exploitation of hydrocarbons to provide electricity to the Senegalese. It is intended to produce 366 Mgw. Of course, the dispute is not there: it concerns the financial management of the company following an audit by the Mazar firm. While some speak of a supposed amount of 8 billion CFA francs, Mr. Baboucar Cissé, counsel to Mr. Sarr, dismisses these accusations out of hand. He said: « There are not 8 billion as people say. It is just 2 billion CFA francs revealed by an audit report from the Mazar firm requested by Moustapha Ndiaye. The firm spoke of 2 billion CFA francs that were not justified and Samuel brought the supporting documents that he had given to the investigating officers when he was last questioned at the Research Section. »

Questioned by Rfm, he continued: « On Thursday, he was heard by the Research Section following a complaint from Moustapha Ndiaye. Samuel Sarr also filed a complaint against him. He was heard that day and he told investigators that he had to go to Dubai for a short business trip, for a contract that is in the interest of Senegal. It was in the context of the construction of a power plant by West Africa Energy at Cap des Biches for a capacity of 366 Mgw. This is very important, because this is 25% of Senegal’s energy production. It was after his trip that there was opposition. And he was arrested. »

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In the same vein, Samuel Sarr’s press attaché gave the genesis of this affair: « Returning from a trip on November 22, 2024, Mr. Samuel Sarr was arrested in connection with a case that pits him against Mr. Moustapha Ndiaye, shareholder and former Chairman of the Board of Directors of West Africa Energy. This arrest of Mr. Samuel Sarr is more than surprising, especially since it comes after his hearings during which he provided all the necessary elements to investigators. » He wonders: “Better still, Mr. Samuel Sarr himself filed a complaint against Mr. Moustapha Ndiaye. However, it seems that his complaint was not investigated for reasons unknown to us. It is useful to recall that Mr. Moustapha Ndiaye, who was replaced in his position as Chairman of the Board of Directors of West African Energy, no longer has the capacity to act as such, and especially for facts that never existed. Indeed, the alerts he received before his arrival at Aibd did not dissuade Mr. Samuel Sarr from returning freely to Senegal.” For his press officer, « his advisers are following the case. And we hope that his rights will be restored as soon as possible and that his complaint filed against Moustapha Ndiaye will finally be acted upon. Finally, we would like to point out that West Africa Energy is a private company that has mobilized its financing and carried out its projects with its own funds. »

By Bocar SAKHO / bsakho@lequotidien.sn

  • Translation by Ndey T. SOSSEH