6 - Rule of Law and the Bargains of Collaboration

Summary

As the investigation into the allegations of Mademba’s abuses of power and criminal acts deepened and as the scandals in France and in the Soudan reverberated throughout the French government, it became clear that no thorough investigation into Mademba could take place as long as he remained in his kingdom. Mademba was ordered to leave his kingdom and report to the capital of the colony, where he was placed under house arrest. This chapter investigates the three nested investigations into the allegations of Mademba’s abuses of power. The investigations by the district commander and the inspector-general concluded that Mademba had indeed abused his power and had acted criminally in the course of his official duties. The third investigation, ordered by the governor-general and the lieutenant-governor to assess the validity of two previous investigations, uncovered biases in the evidence and provided the senior leadership with the means to discredit the two other investigations. Despite the Minister of Colonies’ reluctance, the governor-general exonerated Mademba and released him from house arrest to return to his kingdom. The governor-general, however, appointed a European clerk from the Native Affairs Department to serve as Resident in Sinsani and to surveil Mademba’s rule more closely.