Thousands of Senegalese celebrate the release of opposition figure Ousmane Sonko and his ally, presidential candidate Basserou Diomaye Faye (Anatolia)
The Senegalese authorities released Ousmane Sonko, head of the dissolved Pastif party, and his right-hand man, election candidate Basserou Diomaye Fay, in a move that was cheered by thousands of their supporters who spontaneously took to the streets of the capital, Dakar, to celebrate.
Othman Sonko is the leader of the opposition and its spearhead in the confrontation with the authorities since 2021. He was subject to a two-year prison sentence issued in absentia on the first of last June on charges including calling for rebellion and corrupting the youth.
He ran for the presidential elections, but the Constitutional Council rejected his candidacy, and after his exclusion from the presidential elections, his party nominated Basiro Diomai Faye in his place, in a move that Sonko blessed.
The release of Sonko and Basserou comes after the Senegalese Parliament approved an amnesty for those involved in actions that accompanied the demonstrations that the country experienced during the past three years.
Sonko's supporters did not wait for him to leave prison to celebrate, as as soon as news spread of his imminent release, thousands took to the streets of Dakar to celebrate, sing and dance.
As soon as the news of Sonko and Faye’s release spread, thousands rushed to gather in front of the prison and in front of Sonko’s house to celebrate (Anatolia)
Sonko's supporters headed in car and foot convoys to Cape Manuel prison, located south of the capital, raising the Senegalese flag and honking their car horns and blaring their horns. When they arrived close to the prison, the opposition leader's supporters chanted in the Wolof language, "We love Sonko."
There are 19 candidates competing in the elections scheduled for March 24, whose nominations were approved by the Constitutional Council.
The presidential elections were supposed to be held on February 25, but President Macky Sall sparked discontent with his decision on February 3 to postpone them.
After a month-long ambiguity that caused concern among national public opinion and part of the international community, the presidential elections were scheduled for March 24, that is, one week before the end of Macky Sall’s term on April 2.
Accordingly, the campaign was de facto reduced from three weeks, as was usual in previous election seasons, to two weeks, ending at midnight on March 22.
Source: Al Jazeera + French