This affair nearly caused a diplomatic incident. Four French soldiers were arrested on September 18, 2025, at around 2 a.m. in a nightclub near the port of Dakar. They are Dorian Salva, Paul Legoff, Duchel Johane, and Dylan Sorha. Placed in custody since September 19, they appeared this Wednesday before the Dakar flagrante delicto court.

The defendants were charged with possession and use of Indian hemp, rebellion, and insulting a police officer. In addition, there were charges of assault and battery against Dorian Salva and Paul Legoff, as well as corruption charges against Salva.

The soldiers, who are members of the French Navy, had stopped in Dakar aboard the patrol boat Le Vendose. After a nighttime outing, an altercation with plainclothes police officers led to their arrest and subsequent detention at the Plateau police station.

From the moment of their arrest, the sailors were assisted by Mr. Ousseynou Babou, a lawyer at the Paris Bar. During the trial, he was joined by several colleagues from the Dakar Bar, including Mr. El Hadji Diouf, Mr. Adnane Yahya, Mr. Ousseynou Ngom, and Mr. Alioune Badara Ndiaye. The hearing was also marked by a strong presence of Senegalese soldiers.

The accused unanimously contested the facts, explaining that they believed they were dealing with attackers since the police officers were in plain clothes.

In his indictment, the public prosecutor requested the acquittal of Dylan Sorha, while requesting six months, three of which are firm, for Dorian Salva, as well as one month firm for Paul Legoff and Duchel Johane.

A heated exchange between Mr. El Hadji Diouf and the representative of the public prosecutor led to the judge suspending the hearing.

Finally, the court delivered its verdict and sentenced Dorian Salva and Paul Legoff to one month suspended sentences before acquitting Duchel Johane and Dylan Sorha.