Two Senegalese nationals who were detained in Ghana in connection with the tragic death of footballer Cheikh Touré in Kumasi have been released and safely repatriated to Dakar.
The Senegalese Ministry of African Integration, Foreign Affairs, and Senegalese Abroad (MIAAESE) announced that Khadim Ndiaye and Mamadiang Kane, who were detained alongside the late Touré, were released thanks to “sustained efforts” by the Senegalese Embassy in Accra and the assistance of Ghanaian authorities.
Following their release, the two men were taken to the Ghana-Ivory Coast border and continued on to Mali, where they reported to the Senegalese embassy in Bamako on October 22. They were then provided with care and assistance before arriving in Dakar on Thursday evening. A team from the Ministry and National Police met them to assist with arrival formalities.
The death of 20-year-old Cheikh Touré has sparked a massive wave of solidarity in Senegal. An online fundraiser launched by comedian Mame Balla Mbow exceeded its initial goal of 5 million CFA francs, raising 7.2 million CFA francs—145 percent of the target—from nearly 4,000 donors. Mbow has pledged to publicly verify the final amount disbursed to the family once the formal grieving period is over.
Meanwhile, Ghanaian police have opened an investigation into the suspicious circumstances of Touré’s death. Preliminary findings indicated the young footballer, who was pronounced dead on arrival at Manhyia Government Hospital, had sustained abdominal injuries. The MIAAESE had previously stated that Touré may have been targeted by a fraud and extortion network. Dakar has contacted Ghanaian authorities for a thorough investigation and dispatched consular officers to Kumasi to assist with the repatriation of the remains.
AC/Sf/fss/abj/APA