Title: The Supreme Court of Senegal rejects Ousmane Sonko’s request: towards a legal battle for his presidential candidacy
Introduction :
In Senegal, the Supreme Court rejected the request of the lawyers of Ousmane Sonko, leader of the Senegalese opposition, who asked for the right to recover the forms necessary to collect citizen sponsorships to run in the presidential election scheduled in a few years. month. This decision by the Supreme Court sparked mixed reactions and reignited the debate on restrictions on the exercise of the right to run for office.
The fundamental right to participate in elections:
Ousmane Sonko’s lawyers argued that the right to run for office is a fundamental right enshrined in the Senegalese constitution. Refusing Sonko the possibility of collecting citizen sponsorships therefore amounts to violating this essential right. Indeed, without these sponsorships, it is impossible to run in the presidential election.
A controversial decision:
Although the judge recognizes the fundamental nature of this right, he considers that the Ministry of the Interior can legally refuse Sonko access to sponsorship forms due to his removal from the electoral rolls. This decision was criticized by the attorney general himself who argued in favor of Ousmane Sonko’s request. For the opponent’s lawyers, this decision is incomprehensible and calls into question the rule of law in Senegal.
Outlook for Ousmane Sonko:
Even if appeal of this decision of the Supreme Court is impossible, Ousmane Sonko’s lawyers are counting on other appeals. They filed a petition before the Ziguinchor district court to challenge Sonko’s removal from the electoral lists. In addition, an appeal was filed before the ECOWAS Court of Justice, in the hope of obtaining a favorable decision. The legal battle for Ousmane Sonko’s presidential candidacy is far from over.
Conclusion :
The decision of the Supreme Court of Senegal to reject Ousmane Sonko’s petition raises questions about restrictions on the exercise of the right to run for office. While the opposition denounces an attack on the rule of law, Sonko’s lawyers continue their fight before other judicial authorities. Sonko’s political future remains uncertain, but this affair highlights the challenges of democracy in Senegal.