Senegal’s opposition leader, Ousmane Sonko, was arrested on Sunday while leading a convoy of supporters from Zighinchor to the capital, Dakar. The arrest by security forces abruptly ended Sonko’s cross-country march, which had begun two days earlier and was followed by police. A man was killed in clashes that broke out between security forces and supporters of Sonko. Sonko, who founded the Pastef party in 2014, is facing a trial on rape charges, which could result in him being ineligible to run in next year’s presidential election. A prosecutor has called for a 10-year prison sentence against Sonko. Sonko has been charged with rape and making death threats against an employee of a beauty salon in Dakar. His Pastef party has stated it would “react to any attack on his physical integrity, his imprisonment, or house arrest”. Sonko is exceedingly popular among people aged under 20 years.
According to Senegalese Radio and Television (RTS), Sonko should have sought authorization ahead of organizing what the Interior Minister Antoine Diome referred to as a “freedom caravan.” Diome said Sonko had not been arrested, but rather “dropped off” at his Dakar home. Furthermore, Pastef member Sekouna Diatta, who is also the Mayor of Mangagoulack, a rural town in Casamance, has accused the police of firing tear gas on people who had come to see the convoy. Meanwhile, Sonko denies the assault charges, saying he went to the salon for a massage for chronic back pain, and he asserts that the charges against him are a political scheme by President Macky Sall to disqualify him from the 2024 presidential election. However, President Sall denies the claim made by Sonko.
In conclusion, the situation in Senegal is worrying since the arrest of an opposition leader such as Sonko could lead the country down a path of dictatorial governance. The harassment of opposition politicians and their supporters, the use of violence against them, and the prosecutorial arm of the government appear to be dictating politics and overshadowing the need for free and fair elections. It remains to be seen if authorities will address these issues and ensure absolute democracy in Senegal.
