For damage to public cultural heritage - destruction and alteration of the mural of Pape Ibra Tall at Place de France in Thiès, a complaint against Dr Babacar Diop, mayor of the City of Thiès, was filed on Monday, January 13, 2026, with the Public Prosecutor at the High Court of Thiès.

The author, Serigne Gaye Ndiéguene, grandson of Serigne Mouhamadou Barro Ndiéguene of Keur Mame El Hadji, coordinator of MODDAP/Department of Thiès, considers the mayor's act to be "serious and detrimental to the general interest, relating to the destruction or alteration of the mural created by the artist Pape Ibra Tall at Place de France in Thiès".

"As a citizen of Thiès, I believe this mural was more than just a decorative element. It was a true piece of public art, permanently integrated into the urban landscape of the city of Thiès. It possessed artistic value and

major symbolic, making it an identity marker, a support for collective memory and a vector of cultural mediation between the artist, the city and its inhabitants."

The religious leader emphasized: "It is undeniable that this artwork was part of Thiès' urban cultural heritage and contributed to the city's visual, historical, and cultural identity." In his complaint, he noted: "It has come to the public's attention that Mr. Babacar Diop, Mayor of Thiès, has carried out, or ordered the destruction, erasure, or substantial alteration of the said fresco."

Serigne Gaye Ndiéguene reports that "subsequent to these events, the Mayor publicly stated that he had 'destroyed or erased and then restored' the artwork. Regarding the violations, he wishes to emphasize that, in accordance with the universally recognized principles of Fine Arts, of the

In the conservation of artistic and archaeological heritage, restoration can in no case involve the prior destruction of a work.

On the contrary, he says, it consists of preserving authenticity, consolidating what already exists, and restoring the work as closely as possible to its original appearance, using structured and documented methods. In his view, the reported actions constitute: "an attack on public cultural heritage; an abuse of authority and an excess of power; a violation of the legal duty to preserve and protect public property; as well as mismanagement, particularly if public resources have been committed without legal authorization, without competent artistic expertise, and without appropriate procedures."

He believes it is important to remember that cultural heritage belonging to the community cannot be unilaterally altered, destroyed, or erased by a municipal authority, even one holding an elected mandate. The marabout respectfully requests an investigation to "determine the responsibilities involved; verify the legality of the actions taken; and, if necessary, initiate the legal proceedings provided for by law."

Serigne Gaye Ndiéguéne says he is at the disposal of the Public Prosecutor to provide any additional information useful to the manifestation of the truth, including documents, photographs and testimonies relating to the mural of Pape Ibra Tall before and after the events.