Ousmane Sonko, a prominent opposition figure in Senegal, urged his supporters to mobilise and protest in response to a recent court ruling that could jeopardise his candidacy in the forthcoming presidential elections.
Sonko was handed a two-month suspended sentence and a substantial fine in March for defaming Tourism Minister Mame Mbaye Niang. An appeals court in Dakar upheld the fine and extended the suspended sentence to six months on Monday. This ruling may disqualify him from the presidential race. Sonko alleges that the judiciary is being manipulated to sideline him, and his potential removal could dramatically alter the race and possibly incite violence among his followers.
In a video address on Tuesday, Sonko dismissed the court proceedings as a mere ‘theatrical play’ and reaffirmed his commitment to run for presidency in the February 2024 elections. “I am now more than ever a candidate… No human being can prevent it,” he stated.
Sonko further rallied his supporters to mobilise and protest, particularly on Friday. He declared his sole adversary to be the current President Macky Sall. His call to action echoes similar statements made earlier by other leaders of his Yewwi Askan Wi coalition, who urged citizens to protest in support of Sonko.
Despite traditionally being viewed as a beacon of stability in West Africa, Senegal has experienced political turbulence in recent years. Sonko, who secured third place in the 2019 presidential election, is also set to face trial later this month for alleged rape and death threats, adding further complications to his candidacy. He claims that these allegations are part of a government conspiracy to thwart his political ambitions, an accusation the government has vehemently denied.
Meanwhile, political tensions have been further fueled by President Sall’s refusal to rule out running for a third term, an action his opponents argue would be unconstitutional. The recent ruling against Sonko has already sparked sporadic unrest in Dakar and other regions, however, recent calls for demonstrations have seen limited responses. The authorities, in turn, have prohibited numerous rallies and have deployed substantial police resources.
Image Credit: Seyllou / AFP
