In a significant development, Senegal’s highest election authority, the Constitutional Council, has excluded two prominent opposition leaders from the final list of candidates for the upcoming presidential election.
Ousmane Sonko, a key opposition figure, faces disqualification due to a six-month suspended sentence for defamation, rendering him ineligible for five years, as stated by the council. Sonko, currently imprisoned on a separate charge, was considered a formidable contender against the ruling party.
The council also declared Karim Wade, another opposition leader and the son of former President Abdoulaye Wade, ineligible, citing dual citizenship at the time of his presidential candidacy declaration, despite renouncing his French nationality days earlier.
Prime Minister Amadou Ba, backed by outgoing President Macky Sall, emerged as a major contender among the 20 candidates listed by the Constitutional Council.
The opposition, particularly Sonko’s PASTEF party, dissolved last year, criticized the decision as a “dangerous precedent” and a severe blow to Senegal’s political history.
This move by the Constitutional Council raises concerns about the democratic process and could further complicate preparations for the February 25 election. Opposition supporters had accused Sall’s government of suppressing their activities last year, with some protests in support of Sonko resulting in fatalities.
The political landscape in Senegal is becoming increasingly tense as the nation approaches this crucial election.
