Senegal’s main opposition leader, Ousmane Sonko, expressed his concerns about the potential for “indescribable chaos” in the country if he is prevented from contesting the upcoming presidential election. In his first comments since President Macky Sall confirmed he would not seek a third term, Sonko stated that there would be no elections if President Sall used judicial tactics to prevent his candidacy. Sonko, the leader of the Pastef opposition party, claimed that a majority of Senegalese people wanted him to run and expressed confidence in winning in the first round if a vote took place.
Sonko, who was recently sentenced to two years in prison for morally corrupting a young woman, a conviction that makes him ineligible for the presidency, highlighted the serious unrest that followed the ruling, resulting in multiple deaths. President Sall’s announcement that he would not seek a third term came amid controversy, as some of his supporters argued that a 2016 revision reset the term counter to zero, allowing him to run again. Sonko criticized Sall’s decision, stating that it was not based on democratic principles but rather influenced by pressure from the people and international actors.
Despite facing opposition from those in power, Sonko expressed his willingness to forgive and forget if allowed to participate in the presidential race. He called for free, transparent, and inclusive elections and expressed his hope that President Sall concludes his term peacefully. Sonko also mentioned that he is currently not in contact with President Sall, while security forces have prevented him from leaving his home in Dakar since May 28, prior to the court ruling.