Two of Ousmane Sonko’s main lieutenants were released yesterday. If political observers welcome what they see as an appeasement measure, members of their party are calling for the release of many other people still detained for « political reasons ».

Referred to the Public Prosecutor’s Office for spreading false news and acts or maneuvers likely to compromise public security, the secretary general in charge of communication for the Pastef party obtained provisional release yesterday. El Malick Ndiaye was arrested last Sunday. According to MP Guy Marius Sagna, El Malick Ndiaye was apprehended because of an audio recording in which he was given words likely to compromise national security. According to Guy Marius Sagna, the person heard in the sound recording is not El Malick Ndiaye. He ended up being released.

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The president of the parliamentary group of Yewwi askan wi is also in the same case. Birame Soulèye Diop, arrested for offending the Head of State, among others, was released yesterday after being detained for more than 15 days. He had asked during a press briefing, the putative candidates of Bby not to « drink or eat with Macky Sall because he could do what Ouattara had done in Côte d’Ivoire, with Gon Coulibaly ». The next day, Biram Soulèye apologized, but that did not prevent his arrest.

Their release was welcomed by Abdoul Mbaye. The former Prime Minister, who has become an opponent and party leader, welcomed “appeasement measures” and affirmed that Senegal “greatly needs them. May everyone avoid slippages and unnecessary provocations, sparks capable of setting fire to the powder in this sensitive period. Other fringes of the Pastef party, while welcoming this measure of appeasement, did not hesitate to recall that there remains, according to their count, « more than 500 political prisoners in the prisons of Macky Sall », and they ask for their release.

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Need it be recalled that yesterday, the vice-president of the Freedom, Democracy and Change parliamentary group, Abdou Mbacké Bara Dolly, had prepared a resolution for the suspension of the prosecution of MP Birame Soulèye Diop. It is based on article 51 of the organic law of the Internal Regulations of the National Assembly.

By Malick GAYE / mgaye@lequotidien.sn

  • Translation by Ndey T. SOSSEH