Senegal Opposition Leader's Party Says Court Ruling Politically Motivated
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Loading... - Cynthia Ajak
- 10 May 2023
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The opposition leader of Senegal, Ousmane Sonko, and his party, Pastef, have rejected a recent court decision. This ruling could prevent Sonko from participating in the upcoming presidential election.
The opposition party has accused the government of attempting to harass and sideline Sonko, who is a popular rival of President Macky Sall. The court decision, which was made on Monday, extended Sonko's suspended sentence in a libel case. This extension could potentially make him ineligible to run for president in the February 2024 election, unless he appeals. In response, Pastef released a statement, saying that the verdict was "concocted" at the presidential residence and that it did not change their decision to nominate Sonko as their presidential candidate.
The government has denied any allegations of using the justice system to prevent Sonko from running for president. However, the ongoing conflict between the opposition and the government has caused unrest in the typically peaceful West African nation. Pastef did not confirm whether Sonko would appeal the ruling, but the party has announced plans to hold a press conference on Wednesday to discuss their "action plan" against the alleged oppression of Macky Sall.
Senegal is known as one of the most stable democracies in West Africa since gaining independence from France in 1960. However, the long-running legal case against Sonko and concerns over Sall's potential third term have caused protests in recent years. While the country's constitution only allows for two presidential terms, there are fears that Sall may use recent constitutional amendments to reset his mandate and run again in 2024.
The recent ruling has heightened tensions in the country, and a demonstration is planned for Friday in Dakar. The rally aims to show opposition to Sall's alleged third term ambitions and the government's perceived misuse of the justice system for political purposes.
