Senegal: Ousmane Sonko's convoy on its way to Dakar

Accompanied by a procession of supporters, the Senegalese opponent Ousmane Sonko left this Friday, May 26, the city of Ziguinchor to rally the capital, Dakar, 500 km away.

Senegalese opponent Ousmane Sonko, here in a meeting on May 24 in Ziguinchor. AFP - MUHAMADOU BITTAYE

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With our correspondent in Dakar, Charlotte Idrac

White shirt and cap screwed on his head, Ousmane Sonko began his "caravan of freedom" from Ziguinchor perched on his vehicle and accompanied by a crowd of supporters by car, motorcycle and on foot. At the exit of the Casamance capital, at midday, the procession took the National 6, also called "the road of the South". He had to make a first stop in Kolda, 180 kilometers away.

During a short statement to the locality of Goudomp, Ousmane Sonko called on young people to remain "mobilized". "Our freedom will definitely be won in nine months," he said. Allusion to the presidential election scheduled for February 25, 2024.

On Wednesday, the day after his trial for rape during which ten years of imprisonment were required, Ousmane Sonko had called to "march on Dakar" for "the final fight" against the head of state. The opponent denounces an "instrumentalization of justice" to exclude him from the presidential election. "Either Macky Sall retreats, or we will face him," he said. For his part, the government spokesman warned yesterday: "whatever the cost, public order will be maintained".

According to colleagues and witnesses present in the convoy, there was no tension in the procession on Friday evening. Supporters of Ousmane Sonko sing and applaud. A little earlier, in Ziguinchor, they had cleared the barricades – sandbags, iron bars and tree trunks – installed around the mayor's home for nearly two weeks.

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