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The freedom of Ousmane Sonko and Basilou Diomaie Faye could dramatically change the election race.
Senegal’s main opposition leader Ousmane Sonko has been released, sparking jubilant celebrations outside his prison and across the capital Dakar.
State broadcaster RTS reported late Thursday that Sonko was released along with key ally Basilou Diomai Faye.
Their release comes after the crisis caused by President Macky Sall’s decision to postpone the February 25 presidential vote and last week’s amnesty law for acts committed in connection with political demonstrations in 2021 and beyond. This was expected following the approval of the
The election, which authorities had hoped to postpone for 10 months, is now scheduled to take place on March 24.
“They came before us,” said lawyer Sheikh Koreyshi Ba.
Sonko has been at the center of a bitter two-year conflict with the government and has been in prison since July.
The case against him, along with rising economic and social tensions, has sparked deadly uncertainty for the 2021-2023 period.
Sonko came third in the 2019 presidential election, but was barred from running in this year’s presidential election.
Following news of his release, thousands of supporters took to the streets of Dakar, chanting Sonko’s name in the street outside his home. Some people lit flares, danced and honked their motorbike and car horns.
“We have been waiting for this day for a long time. We prayed for it,” said Fatima, a 52-year-old health worker who gave only her first name. Upon hearing that Sonko and Faye were released, she hurried to join the crowd.
“I believe Mr. Sonko can change the country,” she said.
The opposition leader is popular among young people and his passionate campaign against corruption has resonated in a country where the cost of living is rising and many people are struggling.
“I’m happy about it. It’s unbelievable. They released Ousmane Sonko!” said Mamadou Mbalo Mane, 31.
After Mr Sonko was disqualified from contesting the election, Mr Sonko endorsed Mr Faye as his replacement.
Fay, who was jailed in April 2023, has not been able to address voters in person since the campaign began on March 9.
Incumbent Mackie Sall is not running for re-election this year. A last-minute decision to postpone February’s presidential vote sparked violence that left four people dead.
Violence since 2021 has left dozens dead and hundreds arrested in a country often considered a pillar of stability in West Africa, which has seen dozens of coups and attempted coups in recent decades. It has occurred.
Sonko has always claimed there was a conspiracy to keep him out of the 2024 elections, but his campaign and the government have traded blame for the violence.
He had been in jail since late July on a series of charges, including inciting riots, colluding with terrorist organizations and endangering national security.
His political party was also dissolved.
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