Senegal’s opposition leader, Ousmane Sonko, has rallied thousands of supporters in Dakar ahead of a court appearance on Thursday, where he faces charges of defamation, insult, forgery, rape, and making death threats. Sonko’s Pastef party supporters gathered in a working-class district of the capital on Tuesday, chanting and dancing while wearing Senegal’s national colours of green, yellow, and red. This demonstration, called by the Liberate the People coalition, was the first authorized by authorities in recent months, and tensions are rising as the country prepares for elections in less than a year.
Sonko, who has accused President Macky Sall of corruption and using the justice system to detain opponents without reason in an attempt to silence him and his party, plans to run against Sall in the upcoming presidential election scheduled for February 2024. However, if found guilty of the charges brought against him, Sonko may be disqualified from running for office.
The rape charge against Sonko on March 2 sparked riots that caused around a dozen deaths. Last month, clashes and looting broke out in the central city of Mbacke after a Sonko rally was banned. Many business owners closed up shop in Dakar, mindful of potential violence.
Sonko has pledged pan-African cooperation while taking aim at Senegal’s elites and alleged corruption. He also accuses former colonial power France and multinational firms of having an excessive influence on the country’s economy and politics. However, the president’s Alliance for the Republic party accused Sonko and his party of embracing an “insurrectionary mindset.”
The charges against Sonko come amid speculation that President Macky Sall could bypass the constitution and seek a third presidential term. The opposition has accused authorities of systematically banning its demonstrations for months, but the government has denied any violation of political opponents’ rights.
As the trial of Ousmane Sonko approaches, tensions continue to rise in Senegal, a country seen as a democratic mainstay in the region. The outcome of the trial could have far-reaching consequences for the upcoming presidential election and the country’s political future.
Who is Ousmane Sonko ?
Ousmane Sonko, a 48-year-old opposition leader in Senegal, established the Pastef party in 2014 and has accused President Macky Sall of corruption. Sonko also asserts that the President is attempting to stifle him and his party by using the justice system to detain opponents without reason. Additionally, Sonko has promised to support pan-African cooperation, while simultaneously criticizing Senegal’s elites and alleging corruption. Unfortunately, Sonko’s ability to run in the upcoming presidential election in February 2024 may be jeopardized by charges of defamation, insult, forgery, rape, and making death threats against him. These charges have triggered riots and unrest in the country ahead of the trial.
Image Credit: Seyllou / AFP
