In Ziguinchor, Mayor Djibril Sonko addressed the alleged financial scandal that has rocked the municipality since last year, claiming he has been cleared. During a press conference, the mayor spoke at length about the affair, particularly the reasons for his various summonses, including the one issued yesterday, March 5th, by the investigating judge.

"As mayor of Ziguinchor, the moral authority of the municipality and the town hall, it's perfectly normal for me to be summoned for questioning, to find out what happened. So, the first time I was summoned was at the Néma gendarmerie's research section. I explained how things work in a town hall. That's perfectly normal. Later, the investigating judge also needed to know what happened. He summoned me, I went to his office, and I explained how things work. The investigation then proceeded, until the investigating judge summoned me again. But what you need to understand is that all these summonses are in my capacity as mayor and moral authority of the institution, so that I can be questioned to clarify things that may not be clear in their..." "Head, in a game of transparency," commented Mayor Djibril Sonko at length.

The moral authority of the municipal institution maintains and insists on his non-involvement in this affair: "I knew I had nothing to do with this. The tickets are ordered. They are given to the receiver. He gives the booklets to the manager who makes the payment. At the end of the year, he returns the booklets that they were unable to sell. That's how things work. So, in no way, did I have anything to do with this affair," he declared.

Having been cleared by the judge, Djibril Sonko deplores the way this case has unfolded.

Djibril Sonko claims to have taken appropriate measures from the beginning of the case and to have followed the procedure. "When the treasurer contacted me, I personally summoned Mr. Yahya Mansali to my office, in the presence of my chief of staff, the secretary general, the deputy mayor in charge of human resources, and the director of human resources. In my office, I told him, 'Mr. Mansali, this is the information I've received.' [...] He explained himself. When we finished, I told him, 'You will reimburse what is being demanded of you.' Then, I asked the deputy mayor in charge of human resources to take the necessary steps to remove him from his position as cashier, to protect the interests of the town hall. He was removed, and a new cashier was appointed. Yahya Mansali is a family man. Initially, we don't file a complaint immediately. We give him the opportunity to reimburse what he took. Then, if he is unable to reimburse, that's when we initiate legal proceedings. That's what..." "that's what I wanted to do," the mayor stated.

The mayor of Ziguinchor thus deplored the turn of events, going so far as to defame him and make false accusations against him on social media.

"People felt it necessary to file a complaint with the prosecutor. The prosecutor took up the case and entrusted it to the research section of the Néma gendarmerie. [...] But quite naturally, and this is what I deplore, people are taking to social media to defame honest citizens who have families, children, friends, and people who believe in them. That's what I'm talking about: slander, defamation. I now have the option of filing a defamation lawsuit because I've been released. I was simply released, cleared of all charges, because they realized I had nothing to do with this affair. So, I have the option of filing a lawsuit, but I won't," the mayor stated, affirming that he is focused on what is moving the municipality of Ziguinchor forward.

Djibril Sonko made this heartfelt plea: "We need help to work calmly, to move things forward in the municipality."