French-Spanish lawyer Juan Branco, defender of Senegalese opposition leader Ousmane Sonko, was released on August 7th under judicial control in Senegal, with a decision of expulsion to France.
Controversial lawyer Juan Branco has been released under judicial control in Senegal, ending several days of detention. The Ministry of Justice confirmed his release while announcing a decision to deport him to France. This outcome was met with “immense relief” by his French lawyer, Robin Binsard.
Juan Branco was apprehended on Saturday, August 5th, at the Mauritanian border while attempting to leave Senegal disguised as a fisherman on a pirogue. His arrest followed his intrusion during a press conference of Senegalese colleagues, an event that led to the issuance of an international arrest warrant against him by Senegalese authorities. The charges against him were related to “crimes and offenses,” linked to the unrest following the conviction of opposition politician Ousmane Sonko in June 2023.
The situation sparked heated debates about Juan Branco’s role and actions within the Senegalese political context. His supporters see him as a courageous defender of freedom of expression and human rights, while his critics view him as a disruptive element seeking to destabilize the state and its institutions.
As Juan Branco regains his freedom under judicial control and prepares to be deported to France, Senegal remains immersed in a period of political and social tension. The case raises deep questions about the limits of activism and defense of rights in a context where the nation’s stability is at stake. As attention turns to future developments, the outcome of this legal saga remains uncertain, foreshadowing potential repercussions on the Senegalese political landscape marked by the detention of opposition leader Ousmane Sonko.
