The president of the Union of Directors of Private Health Schools, Ibrahima Coulibaly, appeared before the court for flagrant offenses of false news and defamation on Monday. He was arrested by the Dakar Research Brigade, acting on a warrant related to a complaint filed by the Ministry of Health on March 25, 2026.

 

At a press conference approximately four months ago, Ibrahima Coulibaly accused the Ministry of Health and Public Hygiene of organizing certification exams in violation of regulations and issuing irregular diplomas. He also stated that he had observed numerous medical errors within the healthcare system, claiming that the ministry was recruiting staff with diplomas that did not meet the required recognition standards, thus exposing the population to risks.

 

In court, the defendant stood by his statements. He declared that he had acted with the aim of alerting public authorities, in particular the President of the Republic and the Prime Minister, to what he considers to be a situation of persistent confusion in the training of health workers, in particular nurses and midwives.

 

Regarding the charges of spreading false news and defamation, the defendant denies any malicious intent and maintains that his statements are in the public interest, aimed at defending the quality of education and public health. To justify his remarks, he stated that he was relying on the applicable laws and regulations concerning the LMD system, certification, and the recognition of diplomas.

 

In his observations, the deputy public prosecutor argued that the defendant, by claiming that the Ministry of Health's practices were irregular and the cause of medical errors, was guilty of spreading false information. He therefore requested a three-month suspended sentence and a fine of 100,000 FCFA.

 

The defense lawyers, Ousseynou Gaye, Moussa Diouf, Fatou Sarr, and Mouhamed Mamoune Fall, argued for acquittal, maintaining that there was no fake news. According to the lawyers, the defendant had simply raised concerns about certifications issued in violation of Article 29 of Law No. 2015-01 concerning the orientation of vocational and technical training.

 

In the end, the court found the defendant guilty and sentenced him to a fine of 300,000 FCFA.