Title: The state of Senegal rejects Ousmane Sonko’s candidacy for the 2024 presidential election
Introduction :
The state of Senegal announced on Thursday its refusal to validate the candidacy of Ousmane Sonko, the controversial political opponent, for the 2024 presidential election. This decision is motivated by the removal of Mr. Sonko from the electoral lists, which makes him “ineligible” to participate in this obligatory formality to be a candidate. This new twist comes as the country has been in the grip of a political crisis for more than two years, marked by episodes of deadly violence.
The conflict between Ousmane Sonko and the state has intensified in recent months, with direct consequences on his candidacy for the presidential election. The Caisse des Dépôts et Consignations (CDC) rejected a deposit of 30 million FCFA (around 45,000 euros) made by Mr. Sonko as security. According to statements by Mr. Sonko’s communications manager, El Malick Ndiaye, the CDC returned the check deposited by the candidate.
The CDC justified its refusal by explaining that Mr. Sonko had not received the sponsorship forms necessary to be a candidate. The CDC’s communications manager, Mactar Diop, clarified that Mr. Sonko “is therefore not one of the eligible people” to post bail. A representative from Mr Sonko’s camp confirmed the reports and said the CDC had not accepted the deposited check.
Legal context and protests:
The removal of Ousmane Sonko from the electoral lists follows his conviction for debauchery with a minor last June, for which he was sentenced to two years in prison. On the basis of this judicial decision, the administration refused to issue him the sponsorship forms necessary for his application. Mr. Sonko denounces this affair as well as others of which he is the victim, as maneuvers aimed at excluding him from the presidential election. The power in place defends itself by asserting that it only applies the law.
This exclusion makes Ousmane Sonko ineligible for the moment, but his lawyers have launched a new legal battle against the State. In October, a decision by a judge in Casamance (south of the country) ordered the re-registration of Mr. Sonko on the electoral lists, thus putting him back in the running for the presidential election. However, this decision was overturned in November by the Supreme Court, which decided to refer the case to another court, without specifying the date of the retrial.
Ousmane Sonko’s lawyers filed an appeal against this decision of the Supreme Court. According to Me Ciré Clédor Ly, Mr. Sonko’s lawyer, this appeal will “put everything back in order” and will allow Mr. Sonko to once again be considered as a voter and eligible for candidacy..
Conclusion :
The exclusion of Ousmane Sonko from the electoral lists and the rejection of his bail by the CDC are the latest twists and turns in the political crisis that has shaken Senegal for several years. While more than 200 candidates have already declared themselves for the presidential election, this affair highlights the tensions between the opposition and those in power. The final decision on Mr. Sonko’s eligibility still remains uncertain, but it will have a significant impact on the presidential race and on Senegal’s political future.