The Dakar High Court has pushed back the legal showdown between Mame Mbaye Niang and Ousmane Sonko to July 22, 2026, granting the latter’s legal team additional time to respond to fresh allegations.
The dispute centers on a villa in Keur Gorgui, Dakar, which Mame Mbaye Niang claims was fraudulently transferred to Ousmane Sonko’s family to evade a court-ordered debt.
Why the delay?
The presiding judge granted the postponement after Ousmane Sonko’s attorneys requested more time to address Mame Mbaye Niang’s latest filings. This marks the second adjournment in the case, following an earlier delay in June that allowed Niang’s legal team to refine their arguments.
The legal backdrop
Ousmane Sonko was convicted in absentia to serve two months in prison and pay 200 million CFA francs in damages to Mame Mbaye Niang. However, attempts to enforce the judgment hit a snag when the property’s lease was allegedly reassigned to Sonko’s relatives, effectively placing the villa beyond reach.
Mame Mbaye Niang and his legal representatives argue that this asset transfer was a deliberate move to shield the property from seizure. They allege Sonko orchestrated the maneuver to frustrate the court’s ruling and avoid settling the financial penalty.
