Senegal court delays dispute over disputed Dakar villa until 2026

Civil court postpones key ruling in high-profile property feud

Dakar — The long-running legal battle between former Tourism Minister Mame Mbaye Niang and Prime Minister Ousmane Sonko over ownership of a 264 m² villa in the upscale Cité Keur Gorgui neighborhood has been postponed once again. The third civil chamber of the Dakar court has scheduled the next hearing for 22 July 2026, marking yet another delay in a case that has seen multiple postponements since its initial filing.

Plaintiff demands property rights restoration and damages

In 2023, the civil court ruled in favor of Mame Mbaye Niang, ordering the transfer of the disputed property back to his name and awarding him 200 million CFA francs in damages. However, the execution of this ruling has been stalled due to alleged fraudulent transfer of the property’s lease rights to Ousmane Sonko‘s family before the Supreme Court’s final verdict.

The plaintiff’s legal team argues that this transfer was a deliberate attempt to protect the asset from seizure and render Sonko financially insolvent to avoid paying the court-ordered compensation. The case, which had already seen multiple adjournments, now awaits the submission of additional legal briefs from both sides before the court can rule on the merits of the dispute.

Next steps in a case marked by legal twists

The upcoming hearing will focus on examining the written arguments submitted by both parties. Ousmane Sonko‘s defense has countered the allegations, while Mame Mbaye Niang‘s lawyers maintain that the evidence supports their claim of fraudulent intent. With the new deadline set for mid-2026, this high-stakes property dispute remains unresolved, leaving both parties in legal limbo for the foreseeable future.