The dissolution of opponent Ousmane Sonko’s party, his arrest for insurrection and conspiracy, as well as his candidacy for the 2024 presidential election have marked political news in Senegal in recent months.
It all started in February 2021, when Sonko was summoned on charges of alleged rape. He rejected these accusations and denounced a political plot aimed at removing him from the game. Despite his parliamentary immunity, it was lifted in February 2021, which led to his arrest and three days of riots in several cities across the country.
Despite these difficulties, Ousmane Sonko continued to enjoy significant popular support, as evidenced by his victory in the municipal elections of Ziguinchor in January 2022. This victory strengthened his ambitions for the 2024 presidential election, during which he officially announced his candidacy in August 2022.
However, the road to the presidential election was not without pitfalls for Sonko. In May 2023, he was convicted on appeal of defamation and public insult, which raised questions about his eligibility for the presidential election.
Despite this, the opponent called on his supporters to mobilize and resist, asserting that only the will of God could prevent him from running for president. Sonko also intensified his political actions, notably through the “freedom caravan” which traveled the country to mobilize his supporters and strengthen the territorial presence of his party.
This political-judicial saga captivated public attention and sparked lively debate on the Senegalese political scene. Sonko’s supporters see him as a charismatic leader and a strong voice of the opposition, while his detractors accuse him of using the streets to escape justice.
There remains a lot of uncertainty about Ousmane Sonko’s political future and his path towards the 2024 presidential election. But one thing is certain: he will continue to be at the center of media and political attention in Senegal. In the coming months.