Senegal’s leading opposition politician, Ousmane Sonko, has appealed against a sentence for libel that could disqualify him from contesting next year’s presidential election.
(Bloomberg) — Senegal’s leading opposition politician, Ousmane Sonko, has appealed against a sentence for libel that could disqualify him from contesting next year’s presidential election.
The appeal was filed on May 12 at the Court of Cassation, the country’s highest court, his lawyer, Macoudou N’dour, said.
Sonko, a 48-year-old former tax inspector, is the biggest threat to President Macky Sall or whoever his party nominates to run. Sall is yet to clarify whether he will stand for a third term, which Sonko says would be unconstitutional.
Sonko’s potential disqualification may reignite unrest in Senegal. His supporters have already demonstrated over the libel case, in which he was sentenced to a suspended six months in jail and fined for accusing the tourism minister of embezzlement, and a separate rape case.
Sall came to power in 2012 came on the back of nationwide protests against then-president Abdoulaye Wade’s attempt to run for a third term.
Sonko’s rape trial resumes on Tuesday. N’dour said his client won’t attend the hearing as his supporters are currently facing off with police at his home in Ziguinchor in southwest Senegal.
“Sonko doesn’t feel the conditions to present himself in court safely are there,” N’dour said.
Sonko’s popularity has swelled since 2019, when he came third in presidential elections with just 16% of votes. Sall, 61, secured his reelection with 58%. His closest rival at the time, Idrissa Seck, won 21% of votes, and has since joined his administration.
Sall has argued that a constitutional amendment in 2016 allows him to run for another five-year term.
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