2024-03-15 01:03:29
The country’s number 1 opponent, the founder of the dissolved Pastef party, Ousmane Sonko, and his loyal lieutenant and presidential candidate on March 24, Bassirou Diomaye Faye, left Cap Manuel prison this Thursday evening.
Published on: 03/15/2024 – 02:03 Modified on: 03/15/2024 – 07:55
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Ten days before the presidential election, the two opponents Ousmane Sonko and Bassirou Diomaye Faye are free. A little before midnight, they left the Cap Manuel prison aboard a vehicle with tinted windows shortly before midnight, describes our correspondent in Dakar, Léa-Lisa Westerhoff. Despite the wind and the night, a hundred people have already gathered like Fallora: “ In fact, it’s like the day Senegal won the CAN. We are so happy. »Around the vehicle taking out the opponents, a crowd of jubilant sympathizers was present. A young man brandishing the Senegalese flag even climbed onto the rear bumper of the car to celebrate this liberation.
In less than an hour, the news of their release transformed the capital into a gigantic party. As soon as it left the prison, the convoy of dozens of vehicles took the road towards Cité Keur Gorgui, the district of Dakar where Ousmane Sonko lives, thus creating a giant traffic jam and a spontaneous demonstration. On the journey, hundreds of people, luminous bracelets in the colors of Pastef on their wrists and flag of the Senegal by hand, took to the streets and cheered, with horns or shouts of joy, the opponents.
Standing in a car, scarf in the colors of Senegal around his neck and arms in a sign of victory, the presidential candidate of the ex-Pastef, Bassirou Diomaye Faye, traveled through part of Dakar upon his release from prison accompanied by thousands of well-wishers, cars and motorbikes honking late into the night. Bassirou Diomaye Faye first made a detour to the Place de la Nation to greet the crowd and thank the activists in Wolof.
Protesters hold a photo of Senegalese opposition leader Ousmane Sonko as they celebrate the release from prison of Sonko and presidential candidate Bassirou Diomaye Faye in Dakar, March 15, 2024. AFP – GUY PETERSON
« It is a victory for justice and Senegal »
« It is a victory for justice and Senegal », Confided a young woman who came hastily from home to witness this liberation. “ He is the youth leader », rejoiced a Senegalese. These young people also came en masse to witness this release, which had been expected for several days already, after months of repression of the opposition.
Meryem came from home as quickly as possible: “ It is the victory of justice, it is the victory of democracy over injustice, over oppression. And we just came to celebrate. This man, he didn’t deserve to be in prison […] It is still a breath of fresh air for Senegalese democracy, a political detainee who lasted like that in prison. So, for us, it can at the same time ease the political atmosphere in Senegal. »
Aby Diao, 38, came to express her joy at seeing the opponent released: “ Ousmane Sonko is Senegal’s hope. We expect change. Our country must develop like all other countries. » Ndiogo Diouf, a sympathizer, rejoices at the microphone of our correspondent in Dakar, Théa Ollivier : « I’m so happy. That means it’s victory. In fact, Diomaye, he will win the elections and the country will change. »
It’s a new Senegal. We realize that young people are really aware of the issues.
Reactions from Dakar
Léa-Lisa Westerhoff
Bassirou Diomaye Faye was arrested in April 2023 for contempt of court after a Facebook post. He spent almost a year in prison. Ousmane Sonko was arrested at the end of July after accusations of calls for insurrection, among others. They were released this Thursday evening following the adoption by Senegalese deputies of the controversial amnesty law on crimes committed during the protests that took place between February 2021 and 2024.
The ex-Pastef candidate released a week before the presidential election
A 44-year-old shadowy man, Bassirou Diomaye Faye co-founded the now dissolved party, Pastef in 2014 after meeting Ousmane Sonko at the general directorate of Taxes and Estates. Together, they first worked within the union of this public administration.
Described as a rigorous and methodical man, Bassirou Diomaye Faye has made himself indispensable. It was at the heart of the 2019 presidential election where Ousmane Sonko came in third position with nearly 16% of the votes. He is considered one of the brains of the party who had an essential role in drafting the program. Candidate in his commune near Mbour for the 2022 local elections, he lost to a candidate from the ruling coalition.
Released, he remains for the moment the candidate of the ex-Pastef while there are only seven days of campaigning before the election. But Matar Diaga Seck, president of a movement supporting Ousmane Sonko, is not worried about the future: “ Without him, we were making caravans. When we were told about his release, we were in a caravan, we traveled the country, so we came back to welcome him. And tomorrow, we will go in the caravan again. »
A press conference by Bassirou Diomaye Faye must take place during the day. While a decision of the Supreme Court on the appeal of the PDS of Karim Wade concerning the illegality of the presidential decree which sets the date of the poll at March 24.
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