Senegal’s key opposition leaders freed before elections
The release of Ousmane Sonko and Bassirou Diomaye Faye could significantly change the dynamics of the election competition in Senegal
Ousmane Sonko, the prominent opposition leader in Senegal, has been released from incarceration, sparking exuberant festivities outside the prison premises and throughout Dakar, the nation’s capital.
The state-run broadcaster RTS announced Sonko’s liberation alongside his close associate Bassirou Diomaye Faye late on Thursday.
Their freedom follows a period of turmoil triggered by President Macky Sall’s decision to delay the presidential election scheduled for Feb. 25, and was anticipated after the recent enactment of an amnesty law covering offenses related to political protests since 2021.
The election, initially slated for postponement by the authorities for 10 months, is now set to occur on March 24.
“They emerged before us,” remarked attorney Cheikh Koureyssi Ba.
Sonko had been at the epicenter of a protracted and acrimonious confrontation with the government, leading to his imprisonment since July.
The legal proceedings against him, coupled with escalating economic and societal tensions, resulted in violent disturbances between 2021 and 2023.
Although Sonko secured the third position in the 2019 presidential race, he was disqualified from participating in this year’s election.
The news of his release prompted throngs of supporters to flood the streets of Dakar, chanting Sonko’s name outside his residence. Some individuals ignited flares, danced, or honked their vehicles’ horns in celebration.
“We’ve been eagerly awaiting this day. We prayed for it,” expressed Fatima, a 52-year-old health care worker who joined the gathering upon learning of Sonko and Faye’s release.
“I have faith that Sonko can bring about change in the country,” she affirmed.
The opposition figure is popular among the youth, and his impassioned crusade against corruption has resonated in a nation grappling with escalating living costs and widespread hardship.
“It’s a moment of elation. It’s unbelievable. Ousmane Sonko has been released!” exclaimed Mamadou Mballo Mane, aged 31.
Subsequent to his disqualification from the electoral race, Sonko threw his support behind Faye as his successor on the ballot.
Faye, imprisoned since April 2023, has been unable to engage with voters in person since the commencement of the campaign on March 9.
Incumbent Macky Sall is not seeking reelection this year. His abrupt decision to postpone the February presidential vote incited unrest that resulted in the loss of four lives.
Periods of turmoil since 2021 have claimed numerous lives and led to the arrest of hundreds in a nation often perceived as a bastion of stability in West Africa, a region marked by numerous coups and attempted coups in recent history.
Sonko has consistently alleged a conspiracy to bar him from the 2024 election, while his faction and the government have exchanged accusations regarding the violence.
He had been detained since late July on various charges, including incitement to rebellion, collusion with terrorist factions, and endangering national security.
Furthermore, his political party was disbanded.
Source: Newsroom
