00:00A French court has ruled partially favourable for the extradition of Mandiam Bal Diang,
00:07a Senegalese media owner and government critic.
00:11Senegal issued an international arrest warrant in September over alleged financial misconduct,
00:18prompting Diang to leave for France.
00:20He says he's calm, but determined to fight the extradition.
00:27For the time being, the French state is not yet in question.
00:31It is the French judiciary that has ruled, that has issued a decision which may be subject to certain avenues
00:36of appeal.
00:37We will make an assessment once all legal proceedings have been exhausted,
00:41and at that point it will be clear that in any case, the decision of the French state will itself
00:46be open to appeal.
00:47We are in a state governed by the rule of law, and as I said, it is because I have
00:51confidence in the French judiciary,
00:53in France's rule of law that I came to France.
00:58Senegalese authorities accused Mandiam Bal Diang of financial crimes, including fraud and money laundering,
01:06tied to state contracts, but his lawyer insists the judges were influenced.
01:14It's actually hard to believe that the decision handed down today, the opinion delivered today,
01:19is completely unaffected by the pressure brought to bear by the Senegalese authorities.
01:24Because I would remind you that there was that blackmail exerted on the French authorities,
01:29insisting in saying that reciprocity would come to an end if Mr. Diang and other Senegalese nationals
01:35were not handed over to the Senegalese authorities.
01:40Diang's lawyers say they will appeal.
01:43The move won't automatically halt extradition,
01:46but aims to challenge the ruling's legal basis and procedural fairness.
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