Ziguinchor deputy mayor kidnaps a journalist –

The City Hall of Ziguinchor was the scene of an event worthy of the practices of Uganda's dictator Amine Dada. While he is involved in land-grabbing stories in Ziguinchor commune, the mayor asked to be heard by Kewoulo's journalists. But, undermined by the questions of Babacar Toure who required documents to support his remarks, the deputy mayor of Ziguinchor has used his big arms to sequester the journalist … Kewoulo decided to file a complaint this morning.

Thursday July 26, 2018. It is 4 pm in the regional capital of Casamance. And in Ziguinchor, the sky is cloudy. In this city with abundant wintering, the rain has momentarily abandoned the populations leaving room for a stormy debate which pollutes the atmosphere in the commune.

For several months already, confidences arrived at the writing of Kewoulo state of the sale of land in Ziguinchor. And like a litany, the accusers have always pointed the finger at the first deputy mayor. After the charges, an investigation was opened by Kewoulo's editorial staff. And Mr.Tahibou Diedhiou arrested to provide details on charges against him.

" It was May and I asked my team never to put someone in the wrong without him, beforehand, given the floor. This is what we did when we came to Ziguinchor to see the mayor. "Said Babacar Toure

Contacted on May 7 by Kewoulo's team arrived in Ziguinchor, Tahibou Diédhiou said he was unavailable; because being in Dakar. " But, 30 minutes later he called us and gave us a meeting at a hotel at night. We declined the proposal to avoid any misunderstanding. Kewoulo's Publication Director Justified.

After a first missed meeting in May, Kewoulo's team is once again coming back to collect the testimony of the Deputy Mayor of Ziguinchor. . This time, Tahibou Diédhiou asked the journalist to go to his office.

" What we did when we came to his appointment. But, instead of giving us documents that show that everything he did was legal, he spent his time saying that he would be a cabal victim. That enemies were angry with him "remarked Babacar Touré.

Brought back to the object of the meeting – he had promised to give documents which would show that everything is legal in the procedure – the mayor returns the responsibility to a certain Mr. Bodian who would be responsible for the estate in Ziguinchor

As the famous Bodian would be unreachable, Tahibou Diédhiou gave us an appointment in the afternoon.

" As we wanted at all costs give him an opportunity to defend himself, we returned in the afternoon "said Babacar Touré.

While the editor of Kewoulo expected to face Me Bodian who was to put documents at his disposal, the journalist discovers that regional confreres were in the mayor's office. " I learned later that the confreres had come to the mayor's office to sort out details of a meeting that the regional press was organizing at Cape Skring . "Said Babacar Toure who filed a criminal complaint this morning before the prosecutor's office of Ziguinchor.

As in the morning, the face-to-face meeting between the mayor and the journalist turns against Tahibou Diedhiou arched to his defense of "witch hunt" of which he would be the victim

. " It was at this point that we clearly told him that, if we did not have documents that would have him innocent, we would publish those who incriminate him. "Testified Babacar Touré

As if it was the phrase too many, the mayor lost all his defenses and lost himself in a string of threats: first of all a legal complaint. Then in invectives and physical threats. As the atmosphere became shady, the journalist decided to leave the office.

But, like a frenzied stung, Tahibou Diédhiou got up from his desk and ran directly on the journalist to prevent him from going out . " He grabbed me and with a man who must be his big arm, pressed me against the door to prevent me from going out.

It was at this point that the two journalists intervened to prevent the lynching. " He will not leave this office," said Tahibou Diedhiou. And while his bodyguard obstructs the exit of Kewoulo's editor, Tahibou Diedhiou locked the door and joined the office.

" It was at this point that I made him understand that the case was turning into a crime of kidnapping. The journalist reminded his jailers. After several minutes of dialogue between the chief jailer and the journalists present at the time of the incident, Tahibou Diédhiou agreed to release his hostage.

Beforehand, it was very clear and very precise: "if you publish would not- what a single article about me, I will sue you.

The Writing