Are you curious to know what is the political future of Senegalese opponent Ousmane Sonko? Convicted several times, currently in prison and on hunger strike for a month, his political career seems compromised. However, his camp remains optimistic and refuses to consider a plan B for the next presidential election in February 2024.
Ousmane Sonko, leader of the disbanded Pastef party, still enjoys the support of his supporters who plan to launch a “Sonko coalition” after the Magal de Touba holiday on September 4. Despite the difficulties encountered, those around him remain determined to fight for his cause. The decision to remove him from the electoral lists, confirmed by a prefectural source, is disputed by supporters of Ousmane Sonko who claim to have received no document on this subject. According to them, although Sonko could be prevented from campaigning in prison, he could still remain a candidate. Thus, they will use all possible remedies to maintain their candidate on the electoral lists and to contest the dissolution of the Pastef party. Steps have already been taken with the Senegalese Supreme Court and ECOWAS.
Even if officially, no preparation of plan B is envisaged within Pastef, an internal source confirms that other candidates could emerge in the future. However, for now, they believe that Sonko is a “robust” candidate and that he will stay in the presidential race, one way or another.
It is undeniable that Ousmane Sonko’s political situation is precarious. His conviction, incarceration and hunger strike weaken his influence and his ability to conduct an active electoral campaign. However, the continued support of his followers and their determination to continue the fight shows that the story is not yet over for Sonko.
It remains to be seen how the various appeals initiated by his camp will evolve and what will be the impact of his actions on the Senegalese political scene. Either way, the story of Ousmane Sonko is undoubtedly an example of the importance of resilience and determination in the realm of politics.
In conclusion, Ousmane Sonko, leader of the Senegalese opposition, faces many obstacles which call into question his participation in the presidential election of 2024. Despite this, his camp remains confident and does not yet consider a plan B