The legal proceedings are nearing their conclusion for three Senegalese nationals involved in a large-scale fraud and money laundering case in Ivory Coast. After several months in detention, Awa Ndiaye, Bruno Ndour, and Sene Joseph appeared in court on Thursday, April 23, 2026. The prosecutor requested a 24-month prison sentence.

A fraudulent recruitment scheme in Songon

The case broke following a warning from the Senegalese consulate, denouncing a structured network based in Songon , operating under the controversial Qnet model. The scheme was well-rehearsed:

1. The promise: Fictitious jobs in Abidjan (catering, commerce, large companies).
2. The target: Young Senegalese men, often graduates, attracted to Ivory Coast.
3. The price: The payment of significant upfront fees to secure the position.

Once there, the candidates discovered the lack of work and found themselves forced to join the system by recruiting new victims in turn to try to recoup their investment.

Broken lives: Testimonies in court

The defendants presented a defense based on the status of "victims who became unwitting accomplices".

Accused	Academic Profile	declared route
Awa Ndiaye	Master's Degree in Geography	Recruited for a job in the restaurant industry, she says she was forced to recruit in order to survive.
Bruno Ndour	Final year level	He abandoned his studies for a non-existent business opportunity.
Sene Joseph	Master's Degree in Sociolinguistics	Lured by a promise of employment at a large firm that never materialized.

A verdict is expected on May 21st.

Although Qnet officially defines itself as an e-commerce and network marketing platform, its recruitment practices are the subject of numerous legal proceedings in West Africa.

The representative from the Senegalese embassy reiterated during the hearing the need to strengthen awareness campaigns against these networks. The three defendants, who have been incarcerated since June 30, 2025 , will learn their fate on May 21, 2026 .

Note: The Ivorian justice system continues to crack down on disguised pyramid selling networks, which often exploit the precarious situation of young graduates in the sub-region.