Article: “Ousmane Sonko maintains his hunger strike: 142 personalities sign a petition to demand his release in Senegal”
Ousmane Sonko’s hunger strike in Senegal to protest against his arrest continues to provoke reactions. No less than 142 personalities signed a petition to ask the Head of State Macky Sall to release the political opponent and to cancel the dissolution of his party, the Pastef. Among the signatories are the former Minister of Justice and Mediator of the Republic, Serigne Diop, Senegalese and international lawyers, academics, as well as politicians.
This petition, initiated by human rights movements such as Amnesty International, Raddho and the Senegalese Human Rights League chaired by Alassane Seck, expresses growing concern about the state of health of Ousmane Sonko, currently hospitalized. Alassane Seck stresses that Sonko’s life is in danger and warns of the risk of chaos if the situation were to deteriorate. He therefore calls on President Macky Sall to show his leadership by releasing Sonko and canceling the dissolution of his party.
The dissolution of the Pastef is a regrettable measure according to Alassane Seck, who considers that it constitutes a regression for the country. It calls for suspending or stopping this decree in order to preserve political stability. With a situation already marked by uncontrolled reactions since Sonko’s arrest and conviction, Alassane Seck stresses the importance of maintaining stability for the country, particularly in view of the elections scheduled for next February.
Since his conviction on appeal to a six-month suspended prison sentence for defamation and public insult towards a minister, and two years in prison for youth corruption in a case of repeated rapes, Ousmane Sonko has been charged with appeals to the insurrection and conspiracy against the state, which led to the dissolution of his party by the Senegalese government.
The mobilization in favor of the release of Ousmane Sonko shows that this case is causing serious concern within Senegalese society and the international community. As the hunger strike continues, it is more necessary than ever to find a solution that guarantees both justice and the stability of the country