Senegalese opposition firebrand Ousmane Sonko and presidential candidate Bassirou Diomaye Faye have been released from prison, as reported by state broadcaster RTS. The release followed an amnesty law passed by parliament on March 6 as authorities aimed to reduce tensions after a failed attempt to delay the election by 10 months.
Details about their release were not provided by RTS, leaving it unclear where they were headed after gaining their freedom. Supporters gathered outside Sonko’s residence in Dakar, cheering his name, dancing, and displaying posters of him.
Sonko has urged his followers to support Faye in the upcoming presidential race, causing concerns for rival candidates given Sonko’s significant backing, particularly among disillusioned youth facing economic challenges and job scarcity in Senegal.
Following Sonko’s disqualification due to a politically disputed defamation conviction, a coalition of his dissolved Pastef party members and other parties selected Faye as their candidate in November. Official denial by authorities regarding the political motivation behind Sonko’s conviction has been made.
Faye, despite his relative obscurity and incarceration, remained a valid candidate as no verdict had been issued against him in connection to charges such as defamation and contempt of court.
Reporting by Bate Felix and Ngouda Dione was supplemented by contributions from Sofia Christensen and Diadie Ba, with writing by Alessandra Prentice, and editing by Chris Reese and Leslie Adler.
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