By our Dakar correspondent, Alhaji Jobe
The President of Senegal, Macky Sall has said that it is very possible that Karim Wade will be released before end of 2016. “Even though many people are demanding for the release of Karim, it has to be done according to the laws of the land” Macky said.
President Sall made the revelation during an interview with French-based RFI Radio on Thursday, June 2 in Paris prior to a meeting with French President Francois Hollande as part of his state visit in the country.
“The release of Karim is definitely possible but if it’s going to happen, it can only take effect around end of the year. The process has to be done the right way” he said.
Three people convicted with Karim Wade, Bibo Bourgi, Samba Diasse and Papa Mamadou Pouye were released on Wednesday bringing speculations that Karim Wade’s release is also imminent.
Currently the flag bearer and presidential candidate of his father Abdoulie Wade’s PDS Party, Karim was detained since April 2013, accused of illegally amassing about $1.4bn and illegal enrichment during his father’s 12-year rule. On March 23, 2015, a court in Senegal sentenced him to six years in prison for corruption, though cleared off some charges, he was also fined $230m (£150m).
Karim was senior minister in his father’s government and was also in charge of major infrastructure and energy projects which gave him the name “Minister of the earth and the sky”. His arrest came after the government of Macky Sall came in vowing to tackle corruption.
National dialogue
Last week, President Sall convened a national dialogue which brought together opposition leaders, religious leader and civil society organizations to discuss issues of national interest following his government’s victory in the March referendum which cleared the way to give more powers to the parliament as well the creation of a statue for the opposition leaders.
Despite the boycott by some political parties, to the surprise of many, the opposition Senegalese Democratic Party of former President Abdoulaye Wade who’s son and flag bearer is in jail attended the dialogue. The representative of the Wade’s opposition party, PDS, Oumar Sarr called for the release of political prisoners saying the dialogue cannot be meaningful if political opponents are in jail and Karim Wade has already served half his jail term.
President Sall said the issue is not about serving half of a jail term. He said the release of Karim Wade is now a prerogative on the president as enshrined in the constitution and when the time comes, it will surely happened. “Therefore, it’s not the issue of serving half his jail term or not. I expect a solution by the end of the year” Sall said.
According to President Sall, there is nothing that has change in his relations with the opposition especially former President Abdoulaye Wade and members of his party especially after Karim Wade was jailed. He said he has respect for all his opponents even though many of them confront him with all types of personal attacks. He revealed a surprise call he made to former President Abdoulaye Wade during his 90 birthday anniversary on May 29. Despite their political differences, he commended former President Wade for being very democratic and a matured politician who handles difficult situations with utmost diplomacy.
