Senegal’s Constitutional Council has released the final list of candidates for the upcoming presidential election, scheduled for next month, with notable exclusions causing controversy. The main challenger, Opposition leader Ousmane Sonko, and another prominent figure, Karim Wade, have been disqualified, prompting concerns about the integrity of the electoral process.
Prime Minister Amadou Ba, enjoying the support of outgoing President Macky Sall and considered a significant contender, is among the 20 candidates listed by the Constitutional Council. However, the exclusion of key opposition figures has raised eyebrows and sparked criticism.
Ousmane Sonko, who secured the third position in the country’s 2019 presidential election, finds himself barred from the ballot due to a six-month suspended sentence for defamation. The Constitutional Council asserts that this conviction renders him ineligible for a five-year period. Currently imprisoned on a separate charge, Sonko was widely perceived as the politician with the best chance of challenging Sall’s ruling party.
PASTEF, Sonko’s dissolved party, condemned his disqualification, labeling it “the most dangerous precedent in the political history of Senegal.” The controversy surrounding Sonko’s exclusion adds tension to an already contentious political landscape.
In another notable exclusion, Karim Wade, an opposition leader and the son of former Senegalese President Abdoulaye Wade, has also been deemed ineligible. The council cited Wade’s dual citizenship at the time of declaring his presidential candidacy, despite renouncing his French nationality three days earlier.
Reacting to the decision, Karim Wade criticized the Constitutional Council’s move, describing it as scandalous and a blatant attack on democracy. He argued that the decision violated his fundamental right to participate in the presidential election, expressing his discontent on social media.
The repercussions of the Constitutional Council’s decision could potentially complicate preparations for the Feb. 25 election. Opposition supporters, who accused Sall’s government of suppressing their activities last year, may view these exclusions as further attempts to limit their influence. The situation remains tense, with some protests in support of Ousmane Sonko turning deadly in the past. The political atmosphere in Senegal is likely to intensify as the election date approaches.
