Senegal Supreme Court rejects opposition leader Sonko’s appeal of libel conviction. It potentially bars him from the upcoming presidential election. He’s viewed as a strong contender to succeed President Macky Sall. Sonko denies the charges and faced previous legal battles. Though earlier reinstated on the electoral roll, this latest conviction might disqualify him per electoral rules. Despite the setback, Sonko’s legal team vows to persist. His past arrests led to unrest in Senegal. But there’s no immediate sign of public reaction to the ruling. The final list of presidential candidates will be released by the Constitutional Council on January 20th.
- Sonko has been embroiled in multiple court cases since 2021, all of which he refutes.
- The Court of Appeal, in May last year, sentenced Sonko to a six-month prison term for defaming Minister of Tourism Mame Mbaye Niang.
The Numerous Court Battles of Ousmane Sonko
Since 2021, Sonko, aged 49, has been entangled in multiple court battles. This has hindered his bid for the February 25 presidency. In some instances causing unrest in Senegal, known for its stable democracy in West Africa.
Following prolonged deliberations, the court dismissed Sonko’s appeal against a May conviction, resulting in a six-month suspended sentence for libel, as confirmed by involved lawyers. Senegalese law prohibits his candidacy with such a conviction upheld.
“We’ve achieved a significant victory. The sentence remains, barring Ousmane Sonko from the election,” stated the plaintiff’s lawyer, El Hadji Diouf, on the radio.
Sonko’s legal team, however, remains resolute. “The fight isn’t over,” affirmed his lawyer, Cire Cledor Ly, outside Dakar’s courthouse.
El Malick Ndiaye, spokesperson for Pastef, highlighted the political nature of the affair, suggesting it aims to eliminate the opposition leader. Despite the ruling, Ndiaye insisted that Sonko remains a contender in the race, emphasizing his standing as a strong challenger following his third-place finish in Senegal’s 2019 presidential election.
Sonko is currently in custody since July on insurrection charges. He submitted his candidacy while detained, later reinstated on the electoral register by a court in Zinguichor, where he serves as mayor. Therefore, the decision by the Senegal Supreme Court to reject opposition leader Sonko’s appeal of a libel conviction puts the country’s political dynamics in jeopardy.