Outrage has gripped the religious city of Darou Marnane following the arrest of a 60-year-old carpenter on charges of pedophilia and unnatural acts. The suspect, identified as Mr. Fall, a resident of Touba and a father, has been remanded in custody at the Louga Detention and Correction Center.

Surprised by the Caliph's close protection detail

The events took place on the night of January 10-11, during the Magal of Féto celebrations, reports L'Observateur. The daily newspaper, part of the Groupe Futurs Médias (GFM), citing sources close to the investigation, indicates that the man in his sixties entered a makeshift tent where several young guests, boys aged 10 to 13, from neighboring villages, were resting.

It was the members of the close protection detail (the Khalifa's personal guard), on night patrol to ensure the pilgrims' safety, who raised the alarm. "As they were making their rounds of the tents, their attention was drawn to a noise coming from one of the tents where boys from neighboring villages were sleeping. Intrigued, they entered the tent and caught Mr. Fall, a carpenter, father of two, married to two wives and living in Touba, forcing one of the children into sexual intercourse."

The individual was immediately apprehended to prevent a mob lynching and handed over to the gendarmes at the Darou Marnane station. During his interrogation, Mr. Fall offered no resistance and admitted to all the charges against him, without, however, providing any coherent explanation for his actions.

After being detained, he was brought before the prosecutor in Louga and charged with unnatural acts and indecent assault of minors under 15 years of age with violence. This case, which occurred in a religious sanctuary, has caused shock and outrage among local residents and pilgrims, according to the Gfm news report.