Canada: the Senegalese embassy gives the version of the facts of its arrested diplomat

Aerial view of the city of Gatineau in Canada (Illustration image).

© Wikimedia Commons CC BY SA 3.0 Andrijko Z.

Text by: RFI Follow

2 mins

The case of the Senegalese diplomat molested and arrested in Canada continues.

The Senegalese Embassy in Ottawa has denied, in an information note, the accusations of " 

degradation of housing

 ", " 

violence against the police

 " and " 

rent arrears

 ", denouncing a " 

flagrant violation of the private residence

 " .

of its diplomatic agent who was allegedly beaten up by Quebec police, according to Senegal.

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With our correspondent in Dakar

,

Théa Ollivier

According to the Senegalese embassy in Ottawa, the diplomat Oumou Kamou Sall Niang would have rented, in 2018, a house with many defects, including a malfunction of the heating system, a lack of air conditioning and water damage.

So many problems that she would have reported to the real estate agency and the owner.

Faced with a lack of responsiveness, she would have decided to change accommodation in October 2020. Four months later, she would have received, by way of a bailiff, a formal notice with a request for payment of nearly 57,000 Canadian dollars. to cover the cost of rebuilding the house.

A year and a half later, a bailiff therefore appeared at her home on August 2, supported by the Canadian police in the face of her refusal to collaborate, according to the authorities across the Atlantic.

It was on this day that the Senegalese state denounced a " 

racist and barbaric act

 ".

“ 

Nothing in this case can justify the violence suffered by Mrs. Niang

(…)

This is a flagrant violation of the inviolability of the person and of the private residence of the person concerned by virtue of her status as a diplomatic agent.

 “, indicated the Senegalese embassy in its last note.

However, it ensures that it “ 

renews

 ” its confidence in the Canadian authorities and “ 

follows the investigation very closely

 ” which has been announced.

The Canadian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, for its part, said it was " 

extremely concerned about the alleged treatment of the Senegalese diplomat by the Gatineau police

 ".

Briefing note #diplomacy #Senegal #canada pic.twitter.com/r11lIQsqvh

— Embassy of Senegal in Ottawa (@AmbsenOttawa) August 12, 2022

2/2 briefing note pic.twitter.com/jULpg6r6eh

— Embassy of Senegal in Ottawa (@AmbsenOttawa) August 12, 2022

►Also read:

Canada: the arrest of a Senegalese diplomat denounced by Dakar

Canada embarrassed after tense arrest of Senegalese diplomat

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