Senegal: opponent Ousmane Sonko wins the town hall of Ziguinchor, an important step
Photo taken in March 2021. Political opponent Ousmane Sonko won the town hall of Ziguinchor in local elections on January 23, 2022. AP - Sylvain Cherkaoui
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1 min
In Senegal, political opponent Ousmane Sonko won the town hall of Ziguinchor - the largest city in Casamance, in the south of the country - in municipal and departmental elections on Sunday 23 January.
Although the official results have not yet been announced, he celebrated his victory the same evening, while his competitors announced their defeat.
But what does this mean for the political future of the Pastef leader?
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With our special correspondent in Ziguinchor,
Théa Ollivier
A few small demonstrations of joy continued to be heard in the city of Ziguinchor, the day after Ousmane Sonko's victory as mayor of the largest city in Casamance.
This is an important step for the political leader, at the head of the Pastef party and one of the leaders of the opposition coalition Yewwi Askan Wi, because the latter does not hide his presidential ambitions for 2024.
“
This victory shows that he has local political roots in his native territory, which has become his stronghold.
It will therefore be easier for him to deploy his national ambitions
, ”analyzes Maurice Soudieck Dione, associate professor in political science at the University of Saint-Louis.
He recalls his very good scores in Casamance during the last presidential election of 2019 where he came in third position at the national level.
But this victory is not only local, because throughout the campaign, Ousmane Sonko traveled throughout the territory to support the candidates of his coalition, including Barthélémy Dias who won Dakar, the capital.
Enough to place your pawns for the legislative elections next June and the presidential election of 2024.
But the question now is whether the Yewwi Askan Wi coalition and its various ambitious leaders will remain united until the next deadline.
►Also read: Local elections in Senegal: first estimates and reactions pending the results
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