Senegal’s judiciary has issued a directive to reinstate Ousmane Sonko, the prominent opposition figure who has been detained since July and removed from the country’s electoral roll. This ruling, as disclosed by his attorney Cire Cledor Ly on Thursday, holds the potential to open a pathway for Sonko to contest in the upcoming February presidential election.
Over the past two years, Sonko has faced a series of legal challenges, including accusations of libel and rape—charges vehemently denied by the 49-year-old. These legal proceedings have, unfortunately, led to violent outbreaks in the West African nation.
In June, Sonko was acquitted of the rape charges but was handed a two-year prison sentence for a violation characterized as immoral behavior towards individuals under the age of 21. His arrest in July on insurrection charges resulted in his removal from the electoral register, a decision that jeopardized his participation in the impending February vote.
In a significant turn of events, the court in Dakar, the capital, overturned this exclusionary decision on Thursday, as Ly conveyed to reporters. Despite remaining incarcerated and having previously undertaken a hunger strike in protest, Sonko’s legal standing now suggests a potential candidacy in the February 2024 presidential election.
Ousmane Sonko, who secured the third position in Senegal’s 2019 presidential race, commands a significant following among the youth and is perceived as a primary opposition contender to succeed President Macky Sall, who declared in July that he would not seek reelection next year.
Expressing confidence in the justice system, Sonko remarked, “We were just afraid that they might use force against us. The country’s progress will be hindered by the absence of justice.”
Bamba Cisse, another legal representative for Sonko, informed journalists that the court’s decision holds the promise of allowing Sonko’s active participation in the upcoming presidential election. Meanwhile, a government lawyer stated the intention to appeal the decision.
