Senegalese authorities have issued an international arrest warrant for journalist Madiambal Diagne after he defied a travel ban and left the country, the Interior Ministry announced late Friday.
Diagne, editor of Le Quotidien and head of Avenir Communication media group, is known for his criticism of the government. He had recently been summoned in connection with an investigation into alleged suspicious financial transactions, with his name cited in a government financial intelligence report.
Despite being placed under a search and arrest order, Diagne left Senegal for France, prompting questions about how he managed to exit. The ministry said the circumstances of his departure remain unclear and confirmed that two senior security officials at Dakar airport had been suspended.
On Friday, Diagne confirmed his location in France via a post on X, explaining that he left to prepare his defence. He pledged to return “in a few days to face my responsibilities.”
In a separate post on Saturday, he acknowledged the arrest warrant but reiterated his intention to present himself voluntarily before Senegalese justice.
The development has stirred widespread speculation in Senegal, adding a new twist to an already politically charged case.
