Senegal postpones French auction to save Senghor items

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Senegalese officials said on Friday that they intend to purchase Leopold Sedar Senghor’s personal items at an auction in France on Saturday, postponing the ceremony as a result.

According to TRT Africa, President Macky Sall has demanded that the culture minister, along with the Embassy of Senegal in Paris, hold “appropriate discussions” with the auctioneer.

“My seller and I completely understand the excitement generated by this sale among Senegalese, and… we decided to postpone the sale,” auctioneer Solene Laine told AFP on Saturday.

Negotiations will be held in the next weeks by government officials. If Senegal and the firm cannot reach an agreement, the auction will reportedly be place in December instead.

An auction company in Caen prepared to sell Leopold Sedar Senghor’s stuff, which included battle medals and jewellery. An unidentified individual seller delivered his items to the firm. The company’s website states that “these lots from the estate of Leopold Sedar Senghor come from a private individual.”