Son of Senegal's ex-president questioned by police

Karime Wade (left) has been a divisive figure in Senegalese politics. By Seyllou Diallo (AFP/File)

DAKAR (AFP) - Police on Tuesday questioned the controversial former 'super minister' and son of ex-president Abdoulaye Wade as part of an audit into management by the former regime, sources said.

Karim Wade was "indeed summoned today (Tuesday)" by the para-military police, said a source close to the investigations on condition of anonymity.

He was questioned for more than two hours and refused to talk to a group of supporters who had gathered outside when he walked out of the investigators' office, a member of his entourage said.

The younger Wade was an extremely divisive figure in Senegalese politics in the run-up to March presidential elections, with many believing his father was trying to line him up for succession.

He was often critised for his mismanagement of public finances and was nicknamed "the minister of the earth and the sky" after his father placed him in charge of the international cooperation, air transport, infrastructure and energy portfolios.

The 44-year-old Karim Wade was seen as an outsider after living for many years in Europe and returning to high profile positions as an adviser to the veteran president and later as cabinet minister.

"Ministers are scared of him, business people are cowed by him and major policy decisions are vetted by him," read a US cable on the younger Wade who is known as "Mister 15 percent" over embezzlement accusations.

President Macky Sall, who won a resounding victory over Wade in a March poll marred by violence over the 86-year-old's efforts to seek a third term in office, launched the audits shortly after his inauguration.

He has also launched a probe into ill-gotten gains by former ministers and top officials.

Former interior minister Ousmane Ngom and Senate president Pape Diop are among those who have been questioned about their management and assets.