Senegal: Dakar suspends extraditions to France
The Senegalese government announced the suspension of all extraditions to France, a measure unveiled on Thursday, 11 December 2025 by Minister of Justice Yacine Fall at the National Assembly during the review of her ministry’s 2026 budget.
According to the minister, this decision responds to the blocking of extradition files initiated by Dakar that have remained unanswered by the French authorities. She explained that the principle of reciprocity must apply in judicial relations between the two countries and that as long as Paris does not respond to Senegalese requests, Senegal will no longer honor its own extradition requests to France.
Yacine Fall specified that the Senegalese authorities provided all required elements in the files concerned, notably those involving two Senegalese nationals sought by Dakar, including journalist Madiambal Diagne. A new hearing in that case is scheduled for February 2026.
The suspension concerns all extradition requests made by France until Paris provides a clear response to the Senegalese requests. The measure, described as “a reminder of the necessary balance between judicial systems,” marks a turning point in bilateral criminal relations and highlights tensions surrounding judicial cooperation between Dakar and Paris.
Senegal indicated that this position will remain in place as long as the expected clarifications are not provided by the French side.
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