Land allocations: Ousmane Sonko demands judicial clarity
Following Thursday’s plenary session, which focused on approving six proposed resolutions to establish inquiry commissions, Ousmane Sonko disclosed that he had received two responses from the Justice Minister, the Keeper of the Seals.
Ousmane Sonko, serving as the President of the National Assembly, is seeking detailed clarification regarding the scope of the judicial proceedings mentioned by the Justice Minister. These proceedings pertain to land allocation operations that are the subject of a proposed parliamentary inquiry commission. Without sufficient evidence to confirm that the existing judicial procedure encompasses all relevant facts, the legislative body intends to continue its own investigations.
During the plenary session dedicated to ratifying resolutions for creating inquiry commissions, Ousmane Sonko confirmed receiving two communications from the Justice Minister. He stated, “If we do not obtain further details on a judicial procedure concerning these matters, the National Assembly will be compelled to proceed with its work through parliamentary inquiry commissions.”
The President of the National Assembly further elaborated that an initial response from the minister indicated a judicial investigation was underway concerning land allocations around the airport, specifically near the pilgrims’ hangar. Deeming this information insufficient, he affirmed that he had requested additional specifics. “I explicitly asked for this in the letter I sent to him,” he explained. A subsequent response reportedly confirmed an investigation conducted by the National Gendarmerie’s Research Section, initiated at the financial prosecutor’s request, with its report already finalized.
However, Ousmane Sonko expressed concern that this judicial procedure might not cover the entirety of the land allocation operations targeted by the resolution proposal, particularly those affecting the coastal zone. It is crucial to note that an ongoing judicial procedure addressing the same facts typically precludes the establishment or continuation of parliamentary inquiry commissions. Therefore, the immediate challenge lies in precisely defining the boundaries of the current judicial process. Sonko reiterated his warning: “If we do not receive more comprehensive details,” the National Assembly will press ahead with its work. Consequently, the inquiry commission could continue its investigations into any operations not encompassed by the existing judicial proceedings.
