Senegalese Opposition Leader Calls for Mass Protest Against President’s Third Term

Ousmane Sonko, a prominent opposition leader in Senegal, has called on the public to participate in a large-scale protest as President Macky Sall prepares to announce whether he will seek a controversial third term. Sonko took to social media to rally support and stated that the decision of candidate selection for the upcoming presidential election should not be solely in the hands of President Sall and his regime.

Sonko, who was recently sentenced to two years in prison on charges of corrupting a young woman, believes that the court case was orchestrated to prevent him from running in the elections. Authorities have confined him to his home since May 28, further fueling his claims of being unjustly targeted. His conviction renders him ineligible to participate in next year’s presidential race.

President Sall, who was initially elected in 2012 and re-elected in 2019, is facing opposition from those who argue that a constitutional revision in 2016 reset the term limit counter, making him eligible for another term. However, this interpretation is disputed by critics who assert that the constitution clearly states that a president cannot serve more than two terms.

Sonko urged the Senegalese people to stand together and mobilize in large numbers if he is arrested, declaring that it is time to put an end to what he referred to as a “criminal regime.” He emphasized the need for a definitive and resolute fight, suggesting that the upcoming days and weeks would be critical in shaping the country’s future.