Senegal’s opposition leader Ousmane Sonko and the presidential candidate he supports in the upcoming delayed election, Bassirou Diomaye Faye, have been released from prison, sparking jubilation among their supporters in Dakar.
Their release came after President Macky Sall announced an amnesty, with the elections now rescheduled for March 24 after an unsuccessful attempt to postpone them until December. Supporters expressed their elation, with one describing it as “the most beautiful day of my life.”
Faye, aged 44, is among the 19 candidates vying for the presidency and is set to commence campaigning shortly under the Diomaye President coalition party, backed by Sonko’s disbanded Pastef party.
Yacine Fall, vice-president of Pastef, expressed satisfaction with their release, emphasizing the opportunity to campaign and win with Sonko’s backing.
Despite his time behind bars, Faye remains a frontrunner in the election, having been detained without trial last April on charges of inciting insurrection.
Sonko, aged 49, known for his vocal criticism of President Sall, spent two years in jail from last July on what he claimed were politically motivated charges aimed at preventing his presidential candidacy. Although cleared of rape allegations, his sentencing sparked violent clashes between his supporters and the police, resulting in casualties.
However, despite the amnesty, Sonko will not be contesting the upcoming election due to the unchanged list of candidates. A charismatic figure among young Senegalese, Sonko’s promises of radical reforms garnered significant support, leading him to secure 15% of the vote in the 2019 presidential election.
Following the dissolution of his Pastef-Les Patriotes party in early 2023 over allegations of incitement to insurrection, Sonko’s critics accused him of exacerbating division and tension within the country.
Originally scheduled for February 25, the elections were postponed to March 24 following a court ruling prohibiting President Sall from delaying them until December.
President Sall, having served two terms, is stepping down, with his ruling coalition party, Benno Bokk Yakaar (BBY), nominating 62-year-old Amadou Ba as its presidential candidate. Ba, a former foreign minister and prime minister, is considered one of the frontrunners in the race.
While Senegal has been lauded for its stability, recent court cases against Sonko and the election postponement have triggered violent protests and widespread social unrest, highlighting underlying tensions within the country.
