Jailed Sonko released, eligible for Senegalese presidential polls
DAKAR - Popular Senegalese opposition leader Ousmane Sonko, jailed last year, will be released under a political amnesty - and his name will be re-introduced on the presidential candidates' list ahead of the 24 March poll.
Sonko, 49, the leader of the Patriots of Senegal for Work, Ethics and Fraternity (PASTEF), was jailed last year on a conviction, in absentia, of corrupting the youth in a case where he fell short of being charged with statutory rape.
His two-year sentence sparked the biggest demonstrations in the history of Senegal, resulting in the deaths of at least 16 people and the arrest of hundreds of opposition supporters.
The government of President Macky Sall also extended mobile internet shutdowns.
In Sonko's place, PASTEF opted for Bassirou Diomaye Faye.
Unfortunately, he was also disqualified from the polls due to his initial two-month suspended sentence for defamation by a criminal court.
The suspended sentence was increased to six months after an appeal by the state.
The amnesty, Sall said, was meant to "pacify the political arena."
Sonko has about two weeks to prepare for the elections.
In a notice, the government said: "The leader of PASTEF, the Patriots, Ousmane Sonko is finally rehabilitated on the electoral lists because the State of Senegal has withdrawn its appeal against the decision to rehabilitate Ousmane Sonko from the electoral lists."
Sall's term comes to an end on April 2.
Initially, he had announced the postponement of the elections on February 3, and got a buy-in from the National Assembly to set it for December 15.
But, on February 15, the Senegalese Constitutional Council overruled the postponement and ordered elections to be held as soon as feasible, with the government later announcing a new election date.
On Sunday, election campaigning officially started for the presidential hopefuls, who were narrowed down from an initial list of 93 to 20, including Sonko.
Some of those who were disqualified from the race are former prime ministers Idrissa Seck and Mahammed Boun Abdallah Dionne.
Papa Djibril Fall, 38, is the youngest candidate, and Anta Babacar Ngom, 39, is the sole woman in the presidential race.
Six women had shown an interest.
Ngom is the daughter of Senegalese businessman Babacar Ngom.
Since 2016, she has been the chief executive officer of Sedima, a leading West Africa poultry company.
The ruling Benno Bokk Yakaar coalition has Amadou Ba as its candidate.
Until last week, Ba was the country's prime minister, but was replaced by Sidiki Kaba, and is now campaigning for the presidency.
Kaba served as the justice minister, foreign minister and interior minister in Sall's previous governments. –