Senegalese authorities have placed the wife, two sons, and marabout of prominent media tycoon Madiambal Diagne in pre-trial detention as investigations into alleged financial crimes intensify. The arrests, carried out on Monday, 29 September, form part of a wider probe into suspected money laundering exceeding one billion CFA francs, alongside possible kickbacks valued at more than €32 million.
Diagne, a close associate of former President Macky Sall and a vocal critic of the current Government, is currently the subject of an international arrest warrant. The detentions follow his recent departure from Senegal, defying a travel ban imposed amid ongoing judicial scrutiny.
The investigation centres on SCI Pharaon, a real estate company created by Diagne, with his wife Binta Diaby and their two sons identified as partners. According to a 2024 report by the National Financial Information Processing Unit, a suspicious inflow of 1.7 billion CFA francs was recorded in the company’s accounts. Prosecutors are now examining whether these funds were illicitly acquired or linked to fraudulent transactions. The judicial and financial pool is pursuing answers on the origins of these financial flows, suggesting a coordinated scheme possibly involving State resources.
Binta Diaby and her sons face multiple grave charges, including “criminal conspiracy,” “fraud involving public funds,” and “money laundering committed by an organised criminal group,” in connection with their roles in the family business.
Additionally, Diagne’s marabout, Serigne Mor Mbaye, is being prosecuted for “criminal association.” This development marks a critical escalation in a case that intertwines political networks, financial irregularities, and media influence—potentially reshaping Senegal’s legal and political landscape as the probe deepens.