The Governor of the Dakar region has banned all gatherings planned by the opposing camps between July 15 and 16, 2023. But this does not please the Pastef party, which says it is maintaining the investiture ceremony of its candidate, Ousmane Sonko, tomorrow Saturday at the Amadou Barry Stadium in Guédiawaya, towards the Presidential of 2024, while announcing the presence of their leader at this ceremony despite the blockade to which he is subject.

Despite the Governor of Dakar’s ban, the Pastef party says it is maintaining the inauguration ceremony of its 2024 presidential candidate, Ousmane Sonko, whose home in Cité Gorgui has been under blockade for several weeks. This investiture ceremony is to hold tomorrow Saturday, July 15 at the Stade Amadou Barry in Guédiawaye from 3 p.m., according to an announcement made by the communication services of the said party.

Explaining his refusal to authorize demonstrations in the capital, the governor of the Dakar region, Al Hassan Sall said: « Today that calm has returned, there are indications that these gatherings constitute real risks of disturbing public order; all the more so since actors on the opposite side have also introduced declarations of gatherings in places.” Before concluding: « Faithful to their posture of anticipation and monitoring, the administrative authorities concerned, in accordance with the law, prohibit the gatherings in question as well as those planned by the opposing entities, and instructed the Defense and Security Forces to take the necessary measures to maintain order and preserve peace and tranquillity.”

“This investiture will take place by A or B… Macky Sall acts as if he is replacing Justice. He is the one who said it, he seeks to reduce the opposition to its simplest expression. He announced that he will not participate in the Presidential of 2024, that he therefore withdraws from the political game and that he organizes free elections. It’s the best thing to do”, reacted Birame Khoudia Lô, through an article by Senenews. It should also be recalled that the Pastef party had announced the presence of Ousmane Sonko himself at this investiture meeting, despite the fact that he was practically prevented from leaving his home after the interruption of the « Caravan of peace » by law enforcement.

C’est hier que la candidature de Ousmane Sonko a été officiellement déclarée en vue de la Présidentielle de 2024. Une déclaration faite en marge de la conférence de presse de la haute autorité de régulation du parti Pastef.

“President Ousmane Sonko, born on July 15, 1974 in Thiès, exclusively of Senegalese nationality, fully enjoying his civil and political rights, is nominated candidate of the Pastef-The Patriots party for the presidential election of February 25, 2024. Mr. Ousmane Sonko will be officially invested in a public session”, declared the president of the high regulatory authority of the Pastef party, Mohammadou Ngouda Mboup.

Despite the two convictions of “defamation” and “corruption of youth” against their leader, supporters of Ousmane Sonko say that nothing could prevent the latter from being a candidate in the presidential election of 2024.

By Amadou MBODJI / ambodji@lequotidien.sn

  • Translation by Ndey T. SOSSEH