Dakar court delays sonko signature case ruling to 2026

In a significant development in the case involving the alleged falsification of former Prime Minister Ousmane Sonko’s signature, the Dakar Criminal Court has postponed its verdict until July 23, 2026. The decision comes after the court was initially set to deliver its ruling on July 9, 2026, but the proceedings were adjourned due to the absence of Cherif Zeyni Abidin Sy, identified as the suspected accomplice of the defendant, Khardiata Tandian.

The court’s decision to delay the judgment was not the only ruling handed down on Wednesday. In a separate move, the judges also denied Khardiata Tandian’s request for provisional release. Her legal team had argued that she met all the necessary conditions for temporary freedom, emphasizing that she has been held in pre-trial detention for over a year, is married, and is a mother to a young child. The defense further contended that the time already served could effectively cover any potential sentence, and that further detention would severely disrupt her personal and family life.

However, the prosecution strongly opposed the release, citing concerns that Tandian’s freedom could pose a threat to public order and that she did not provide sufficient guarantees to ensure her appearance in court for future proceedings. Despite the defense’s counterargument that there was no risk of witness tampering since Tandian had already testified, the court sided with the prosecution’s position. As a result, Khardiata Tandian remains in custody pending the final resolution of the case.