The legal-political saga surrounding Ousmane Sonko, the imprisoned Senegalese opponent, has reached a new turning point with the decision of a provincial judge which could open the way for him to the presidential election.
Indeed, last Thursday, a judge in the city of Ziguinchor, in southern Senegal, canceled the removal of Ousmane Sonko from the country’s electoral lists. This removal, which followed his sentence to two years in prison, deprived him of the possibility of running in the presidential election scheduled for 2024.
Sonko’s lawyers immediately reacted by asserting that this judge’s decision allowed their client to participate in the next presidential election. However, the state responded by saying it would appeal the decision, meaning Sonko is not yet officially allowed to run.
This decision by the Ziguinchor judge is considered the last chance for Sonko to be able to run for president. His lawyers seized this opportunity by contesting his removal before the Ziguinchor court, where he is mayor and where he was registered on the electoral lists.
The reaction of Sonko’s supporters was positive, considering that this decision did justice to their leader and allowed him to pursue his political ambitions. However, the standoff between Sonko and those in power is far from over.
Sonko was convicted last June of debauchery of a minor and refused to go to trial, calling it a plot to exclude him from the presidential election. He was later imprisoned on other charges, including calling for insurrection and endangering state security.
Authorities say Sonko is responsible for a series of protests and unrest since 2021, which have resulted in several deaths. Sonko, for his part, denounces political maneuvers aimed at eliminating him from the presidential race.
The fate of Ousmane Sonko is therefore still uncertain, but this decision by the Ziguinchor judge opens a window of hope for his political future. The next episodes of this political-judicial saga promise to be fascinating and decisive for the future of the country.
In conclusion, the decision of the Ziguinchor judge to reinstate Ousmane Sonko on the electoral lists brings a glimmer of hope to the Senegalese opponent, but the standoff with power is far from over. The battle for the 2024 presidential election promises to be intense and decisive for the future of Senegal. To be continued.