Senegalese authorities have arrested the mayor of the capital Dakar, a potential rival to President Macky Sall in elections expected in 2019, on suspicion of embezzling 1.8 billion CFA francs ($2.87 million), his lawyer said on Wednesday.
Last week a public prosecutor summoned the mayor, Khalifa Sall, who is no relation to the president, to give evidence on how he spent the money between 2011 and 2015.
The mayor, who denies any wrongdoing, was arrested late on Tuesday, the lawyer said.
Khalifa Sall’s socialist party is part of a coalition backing the president, but he has since distanced himself. He has not publicly announced he plans to run against Sall, but has been tipped by his supporters.
