Senegal: Jailed Opposition Leader Files Candidacy To Stand February Election

Jailed Senegalese opposition leader Ousmane Sonko has submitted his candidacy to contest a February presidential election.

He proceeded with the submission despite the refusal of constitutional council to avail him the necessary documents.

According to a top official of his now dissolved party PASTEF Party, Ousseynou Ly, Sonko’s back-up candidate, Bassirou Diomaye Faye has also filed to run.

Sonko, just like other candidates had until 26th December to submit his candidacy and show that he has collected enough signatures to back him up.

Last week, Senegalese electoral body declined to provide Sonko’s representative with the documents needed to file.

His lawyers said they would go ahead, hoping the justice system would be more receptive.

“We are certain that his candidacy will be accepted and validated,” Said Larifou, one of his lawyers, said Friday during a press conference in Paris.

“The Constitutional Council is a judicial organ and not political.”

Sonko was sentenced to two years jail term on 1st June on charges of corrupting minors.

He refused to attend his trial and was tried and convicted in absentia.

The 49-year-old has been jailed since the end of July on other charges, including calling for insurrection, conspiracy with terrorist groups, and endangering state security.

He has denied the charges, saying they are intended to prevent him challenging President Macky Sall in the 25th February election.

In mid-December, a judge ordered that he be re-installed on the list of candidates, confirming a lower court order which was set aside on first appeal.

Faye, who is also in prison, is the back-up candidate for the PASTEF party, which authorities ordered in July to be dissolved.