Al Mayadeen English

  • Ar
  • Es
  • x
Al Mayadeen English

Slogan

  • News
    • Politics
    • Economy
    • Sports
    • Arts&Culture
    • Health
    • Miscellaneous
    • Technology
    • Environment
  • Articles
    • Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Blog
    • Features
  • Videos
    • NewsFeed
    • Video Features
    • Explainers
    • TV
    • Digital Series
  • Infographs
  • In Pictures
  • • LIVE
News
  • Politics
  • Economy
  • Sports
  • Arts&Culture
  • Health
  • Miscellaneous
  • Technology
  • Environment
Articles
  • Opinion
  • Analysis
  • Blog
  • Features
Videos
  • NewsFeed
  • Video Features
  • Explainers
  • TV
  • Digital Series
Infographs
In Pictures
  • Africa
  • Asia
  • Asia-Pacific
  • Europe
  • Latin America
  • MENA
  • Palestine
  • US & Canada
BREAKING
Palestinian Prisoner Society: Administrative detainee Louay Nasrallah, 22, from Jenin, martyred in "Israel’s" Soroka Hospital
Iran's judiciary: 935 people killed in Israeli strikes on Iran.
Al Mayadeen's correspondent: Knesset committee votes to advance impeachment of Arab MK Ayman Odeh.
TASS: Car explosion east of Moscow, ambulances rush to scene.
Al Mayadeen's correspondent: Over 10 martyrs and several wounded as Israeli forces opened fire on aid seekers on al-Tina Street, southwest of Khan Younis
A vehicle exploded in Washington, DC, the United States.
The Israeli occupation forces are carrying out extensive air raids on eastern and northeastern Gaza.
Israeli media: One Israeli soldier killed in a "security incident" in Khan Younis, south of the Gaza Strip
Israeli media: Intense exchange of fire in Khan Younis
Israeli media platform reports on a tough incident in Gaza still under media censorship

Senegalese presidential candidate calls for protests over court ruling

  • By Al Mayadeen English
  • Source: Agencies
  • 10 May 2023 08:52
  • 1 Shares
3 Min Read

The opposition figure accuses the government of intentionally vandalizing his presidential run.

  • x
  • Senegalese presidential candidate calls for protests over court ruling
     Opposition leader Ousmane Sonko speaking during a news conference in Dakar, Senegal March 8, 2021 (Reuters)

Senegalese opposition figure Ousmane Sonko slams a court ruling against him over a defamation case that might make him ineligible to run for president and describes it a "theatre play", calling on his supporters to protest the decision.

"What happened yesterday was a theatre play in which the roles were assigned," he said in a video address on Tuesday.

In March, the politician was sentenced to a two-month suspended sentence and a fine for defaming Tourism Minister Mame Mbaye Niang, while an appeals court on Monday increased the fine and extended his term to six months, threatening his plans to remain an eligible candidate for the presidential elections in 2024.

Read more: Senegal's president: Africa not breeding ground for new Cold War

"It in no way calls into question our plans," he said.

"I am now more than ever a candidate" for the February 2024 presidential election, he stressed. 

"Only God can prevent my candidacy... No human being can prevent it."

The opposition leader asked his supporters to "stay on your feet and mobilize."

"We have only one opponent, that of Senegal, (current President) Macky Sall," he said, calling them to turn up in large numbers in the Friday protests.

Read more: Turkish elections will decide the fate of the Syrian question: Report

Related News

Germany to halt funding for Mediterranean rescue missions

Trump confirms Rwanda-DRC peace deal, gripes about Nobel Peace prize

The Friday protests were initially called for earlier by leading members of his coalition.

"The people have to mobilize to support Ousmane Sonko in this fight," Khalifa Sall, one of the Yewwi Askan Wi coalition leaders, told reporters.

The defamation case is not the only trial the opposition politician is up against.

Sonko, who came in third in the 2019 presidential elections against Sall, will also be facing an alleged rape and death threats trial later this month.

Read more: Kilicdaroglu calls on supporters to ensure victory in 1st voting round

He describes the trials as the government's attempts to sabotage his candidacy.

Denying the claims, Senegalese government spokesperson Abdou Karim Fofana said on Tuesday that "everyone is answerable before the law, whether an opponent, or in power, or a government minister."

Fofana added that the protests can take place with no reason to be banned "as long as there is no risk of disturbing the peace."

Political tensions in the African country have further increased after Sall refused to rule out rerunning for his third term, a move described by his opponents as unconstitutional.

Dethie Fall, another Yewwi Askan Wi coalition member, called for a demonstration on May 19 against a "campaign to liquidate Ousmane Sonko."

He said that not to take action "would be to let democracy be transformed into a monarchy and dictatorship by President Macky Sall, who has only one idea in mind, the third mandate."

  • Africa
  • Senegal
  • Ousmane Sonko

Most Read

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian attends a protest following the US attacks on nuclear sites in Iran, in Tehran, Iran, Sunday, June 22, 2025. (AP)

Iran declares victory as ceasefire forces Israeli retreat

  • Politics
  • 24 Jun 2025
Iran launches strikes on Israeli targets, despite alleged ceasefire

Iran victorious as ceasefire with 'Israel' takes effect

  • Politics
  • 24 Jun 2025
Iran says targeted US Qatar air base under Op. Annunciation of Victory

Iran says targeted US Qatar air base under Op. Annunciation of Victory

  • MENA
  • 23 Jun 2025
Gaza

7 Israeli soldiers killed in double ambush by Gaza Resistance

  • Palestine
  • 24 Jun 2025

Coverage

All
The Ummah's Martyrs

Read Next

All
Women comfort each other by a vehicle that was burnt overnight by Israeli settlers in an attack that killed three Palestinians and burnt several vehicles and damaged homes, in Kafr Malik, east of Ramallah, Thursday, June 26, 2025 (AP)
Politics

Settlers shoot and assault Palestinians in Hizma, Masafer Yatta

Syria's interim leader, Ahmad al-Sharaa, walks in the presidential palace ahead of a meeting in Damascus, Dec. 28, 2024. (AP)
Politics

Syria open to al-Sharaa-Netanyahu meeting at UN assembly

Former Iranian parliament speaker Ali Larijani speaks with media at the Interior Ministry in Tehran, Iran, Friday, May 31, 2024 (AP)
Politics

'Israel' failed to topple Iran, lost 12-day war, Larijani says

Smoke rises to the sky following an Israeli strike in the Gaza Strip as seen from southern Israel, Wednesday, June 11, 2025. (AP)
Politics

War on Gaza failed to achieve objectives in Gaza

Al Mayadeen English

Al Mayadeen is an Arab Independent Media Satellite Channel.

All Rights Reserved

  • x
  • Privacy Policy
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Authors
Android
iOS