Di release of Ousmane Sanko from prison go fit change di Senegal presidential election result?

Di fact say di Sonko movement no dey represented by Ousmane Sonko for di ballot no mean say dem no go fit shake di presidential majority candidate wey be Amadou BA.

Dis na wetin political analyst Gilles Yabi tok on top di election. E add say, "I believe say, in one way, one of di strategies of Ousmane Sonko and di movement wey support am na to show say di power on ground wan move am go one side and say dem wan use all means make sure say dem no win di election."

"And I sabi say e don ask oda candidates wey dey close to di movement, like Cheikh Tidiane Dieye and Habib Sy make dem maintain dia candidacy as dem dey campaign for Bassirou Diomaye Faye so dat di Sonko movement for be di strongest for dis presidential election. Wetin go dey important for dis election na di actual presence of Ousmane Sonko, even though e no be candidate by imself, im presence go show for all di candidates wey dey represent di Ousmane Songo movement", na wetin Gilles Yabi wey be di President of di Dakar based think tank Wathi.

Yabi tok dey come as dem release Ousmane Sanko from prison as di presidential election dey around di corner.

According to Ibrahim Lissa Faye, di fact say Ousmane Sonko no dey among list of candidates no go affect di presidential election like dat bicos im popularity mean say e go get plenti attention even as dem free am from prison.

Di tori pesin tok say, "if we look di way di last two elections don go, especially di local elections for 2022, wia di Yewwi Askan Wi coalition bin see breakthrough for di place wey Ousmane Sonko bin head di list, we fit say Sonko bin get major influence for di vote. Dis na bicos, no be only im militants and supporters vote for di candidate e bin nominate, im name go also dey very clear ova all di votes, so beta impact go dey. And if e give order make pipo vote, pipo go follow and dat already dey very clear."

Why dem release Ousmane Sonko and Bassiriu Sionaye Faye now?

Ousmane Sonko, leader of di former Pastef party, wey di Senegalese state dissolve, fit smell di air of freedom.

Na for di night of Thursday 14 March wey dem release am and di come trigger scenes of jubilation from im supporters wey come out in dia numbers to welcome am.

Di opponent no be di only one to benefit from di release, as di candidate wey bin dey presented by im former party and dia allies, Bassirou Diomaye Faye also bin dey released from prison.

Oga Sonko lawyer (Bamba Cisse) confam di release of di politician and im presidential candidate, Bassirou Diomaye Faye.

For di streets of Dakar, crowds deu dance with joy, dey chant oga Sonko name.

Dis release of Ousmane Sonko and Bassirou Diomaye Faye dey come in di middle of di electoral campaign for di presidential election wey dem go hold in less dan ten days.

Di two political leaders benefit from di amnesty law wey di Senegalese National Assembly just pass. Dis plus a desire by President Macky Sall to calm di Senegalese political space. Di kontri bin dey rocked in recent years by violent protests.

Di amnesty law cover “all acts wey dey likely to qualify as a criminal or correctional offense, committed between February 1, 2021 and February 25, 2024, both inside Senegal and abroad, and e relate to demonstrations or pipo with political motivations, including those made by all communication media, weda dia authors don go court or not.”

Dis release also don come forward before by di media boss and wey dey close to Macky Sall, Madiambal Diagne.

Ousmane Sonko bin dey disqualified from running imsef for di poll wey now dey set for March 24, following a conviction for defamation.

Who be Ousmane Sonko, di fierce opponent of Mackey Sall?

Ousmane Sonko, inspector of taxes and estates, don experience a meteoric political rise in just a few years. From a dismissed civil servant, im become a deputy for di National Assembly, then mayor of di city of Ziguinchor.

From civil servant dem comot from office to main opponent?

10 years ago, e still bin dey unknown to di general public.

Na im dismissal from di civil service na im revealed am. Na for August 29, 2016. “Ousmane Sonko. Principal Inspector of Taxes and Lands of 2nd class 2nd level, pay number n°604.122/1, dey dismissed without suspension of pension rights for breach of di obligation of professional discretion provided for in article 14 of di law n°61-33 of June 15, 1961” indicate di revocation decree signed by President Macky Sall.

Dis sanction for breach of duty of confidentiality follow a series of declarations by di tax and estates inspector a few months earlier.

On numerous occasions, im bin don deny wetin e claim to be scandals of misappropriation of public funds or undue tax advantages, involving figures wey dey power.

However, Ousmane Sonko dey deny any violation of professional secrecy.

E specify say im dey speak as di leader of a political party and mention a provision of di West African Economic and Monetary Union (UEMOA), wey make all civil servants to denounce any financial embezzlement of wey dem become aware of in di exercise of dia duties.

What about im political career?

Ousmane Sonko officially create im political party, African Patriots of Senegal for Work, Ethics and Fraternity (PASTEF) in 2014 while im be still be civil servant. But na im removal in 2016 na in help to push am into di political scene.

Di following year, in 2017, e take part in di legislative elections and dem elect am a deputy to di National Assembly.

Two years later, in 2019, Ousmane Sonko present im candidacy for di supreme office. E come in third place with 15.76% votes. E bin dey ahead of Macky Sall, di outgoing president wey bin dey re-elected for a second term and former Prime Minister Idrissa Seck, president of di REWMI party. Di latter subsequently join di ruling coalition, and currently be President of di Economic, Social and Environmental Council.

In January 2022, president of PASTEF bin dey elected mayor of Ziguinchor, a city wey dey located in di south of di kontri.

To finance di activities of im party, oga Sonko opt for crowdfunding. Dia latest fundraising campaign, wey dem launch in mid-January, mobilize more dan 300 million CFA francs in 24 hours, a first for a political party in Senegal.

Today, Ousmane Sonko announce im candidacy for di presidential election scheduled for 2024 but im participation fit dey compromised.

In June 2024, dem arrest Ousmane Sonko arrested and place am under arrest warrant.

Im party, PASTEF (African Patriots of Senegal for Work, Ethics and Fraternity), bin dey dissolved by di Ministry of di Interior. Di reasons dem give na di frequent calls by PASTEF leaders and authorities for insurrection, according to di press release wey di Senegalese authorities publish.

Im candidacy for di 2024 presidential election bin dey ultimately rejected due to a conviction for defamation.

Since March 2021, di politician dey charged wit rape and death threats, following a complaint from an employee of a massage parlor, Adji Raby Sarr. E deny any accusation of rape and call am say na conspiracy.

Sonko say im be victim of an attempted political liquidation, organized by di regime in place, to prevent am from running in di 2024 presidential election.

But members of si ruling party categorically reject dis accusation.

Di so-called “Adji Sarr-Sonko” affair result to di lifting of im parliamentary immunity for di purposes of di investigation.

Summoned and on di way to court, police block im convoy. Im arrest and placement in police custody spark a wave of deadly violence wey 14 young pipo lost dia lives.

During dis protests in March 2021, several French brands bin dey ransacked. Dem come release Ousmane Sonko and place am under judicial supervision.

Sentenced to 2 years for “youth corruption”

Di Senegalese opponent refuse to appear for im trial for rape wey dem hold on May 23, 2023. During di judgment, di witnesses and im accuser parade in front of di bar until late at night.

Ousmane Sonko explain im absence from court as im desire for civil disobedience. E diafor decide to take refuge in di south of Senegal, in Ziguinchor, di city wia im be di mayor.

Dem sentence Ousmane Sonko in June 2023 to two years in prison for "corruption of youth" accompanied by a fine of 600,000 FCFA, by di Dakar Criminal Chamber.

A few days earlier, Sonko bin announce im return to Dakar. E bin don launch wetin e call a "freedom caravan", a procession wey for take am from Ziguinchor to Dakar by road, through some major cities in di kontri.

But di march bin dey interrupted by defense and security forces after clashes between di FDS and dia supporters.

Dem briefly arrest Ousmane Sonko and take am by force to im home for Dakar. E bin denounce a kidnapping, while di authorities affirm say e bin dey supervised to avoid disturbances to public order.

Tension bin dey high in Dakar wia homes and vehicles of politicians bin dey set on fire since im arrest and house arrest.

A conviction for defamation wey cost am im candidacy for di 2024 presidential election

Anoda legal case put di politician against Mame Mbaye Niang, Senegalese Minister of Tourism, wey file a complaint against Sonko for defamation.

Indeed, Ousmane Sonko declare during a press conference say di former Minister of Youth and Employment bin dey singled out by a report from di IGE (di General State Inspectorate) for embezzlement of funds in di so-called 29 billion CFA Francs case from di Community Agricultural Domains Program (PRODAC).

A report wey di Minsiter wey dey responsible dey contest.

In di meantime, Sonko return to im remarks, and specify sat di report in question come from di General Inspectorate of Finance (IGF) rather than di General State Inspectorate (IGE).

Two oda grounds for indictment bin dey added to dat of defamation by di prosecution: public insults and forgery and use of forgery.

After several referrals, di verdict fall on March 30, in di absence of di defendant.

Ousmane Sonko dey sentenced at first instance to 2 months in prison and 200 million FCFA in damages to be paid to Mame Mbaye Niang.

Di judge acquit am of di offenses of forgery and use of forgery, as well as public insults.

Following dis court decision, di prosecution and Minister Mame Mbaye Niang announce dia decision to appeal.

Dem overturn di sentence on appeal and Ousmane Sonko again bin dey sentenced to six months in prison and 200 million FCFA in damages.

Sonko lawyers file a cassation appeal.

If dis verdict dey upheld, e fit make Sonko ineligible for di next presidential election scheduled for February 2024, wey im don already announce im candidacy.

Di Senegalese electoral code in paragraph 3 of article 29 provide for di non-possibility of being registered on di electoral list in di event of conviction to a sentence of three months without suspension or to a prison sentence of more than six months suspended sentence.

But afta a long legal drama, a court in Dakar give order on Thursday, December 14, 2023, for di reinstatement of Sonko on di electoral lists, wey pave di way for im candidacy for di presidential election of February 25, 2024.

Dis conviction for defamation also dey used by di Constitutional Council to exclude Sonko from di race for di presidential chair.

Im relations with France…

“We dey portrayed as notorious anti-French people”

Since im very first public outings, Ousmane Sonko always dey display antagonistic positions with regard to di relations between France and Senegal.

For im speeches, di leader of di ex-PASTEF embody a desire for change in di relations between di two kontris both at di economic and political level.

“We get nothing against France, nor against any oda kontri. We get a speech wey fit dey uncomfortable becos na speech wey call for a break in relationships. E get some centuries-old traditions between Senegal and France but these traditions also dey based on relations wey no dey entirely rosy for Senegal. We dey di 21st century, di world dey change” e maintain during interview wit our colleagues for France Médias Monde.

Why e dey popular wit young pipo?

Aged 48, Ousmane Sonko wan be di incarnation of a generational change in di Senegalese political class and a new model of politician.

E dey express imself more on social networks than conventional media.

Im denial of tax fraud, im recurring revelations on di alleged mismanagement of di State and im anti-system and nationalist discourse find a favorable response among many young Senegalese.

Even if im detractors describe im speech as populist, di leader of di ex-PASTEF dey adored by a section of young pipo wey dey frustrated by economic and social inequalities, and wey constitute more than half of di Senegalese population.