The Dakar High Court has once again delayed the high-stakes legal battle between Mame Mbaye Niang and former Prime Minister Ousmane Sonko. The next hearing in this dispute has been rescheduled for July 22, 2026, following a request from Sonko’s legal team to address recently filed evidence.
Key details of the ongoing property dispute
The legal feud centers on a villa located in the Keur Gorgui district, a property originally owned by Sonko. Mame Mbaye Niang has accused Sonko of executing a fraudulent transfer of the villa’s title to his family, allegedly to shield it from a court-ordered financial penalty. In 2024, Sonko was convicted in a final judgment to pay 200 million West African CFA francs in damages to Niang, along with serving a two-month prison sentence.
Despite the verdict, Niang encountered obstacles when attempting to enforce the decision. Court records reveal that the property’s leasehold rights—covering a 264m² plot in Keur Gorgui—were allegedly transferred to Sonko’s family, complicating efforts to recover the owed amount.
Allegations of deliberate insolvency tactics
Niang’s legal representatives argue that the transfer was a premeditated strategy to create financial insolvency and evade the court’s ruling. They claim Sonko’s actions constitute an attempt to obstruct justice by removing the villa from potential seizure. The defense, however, has not yet publicly addressed these allegations in detail.
This isn’t the first delay in the case. An earlier hearing was postponed to June 10, allowing Niang’s lawyers additional time to craft a rebuttal to Sonko’s legal submissions. The upcoming July session will be critical in determining whether the disputed property transfer holds legal weight—or if Niang’s claims of fraud will be substantiated.