Politics

Senegalese opposition leader, Sonko rallies supporters for protest after extended sentence

Published

2 years ago

May 11, 2023

Following the extended sentence on Senegalese opposition leader, Ousmane Sonko by a court on Tuesday, the politician has rallied his supporters for a demonstration.

The recent ruling which could disqualify Sonko from running in the country’s presidential elections next year has been labelled by him as a move by incumbent President Macky Sall to use the judiciary to sideline him.

Sall and Sonko were rival candidates during the last presidential elections, and president Sall has been continually linked with seeking a third-term reign.

Sonko had also claimed that his life was in danger, claiming that he had proof he would be killed on March 16 while travelling to court to answer for rape charges.

Commenting on the latest ruling while addressing the press, Sonko condemned the ruling and called on his supporters to “stay on your feet and mobilise”, and in particular to come out in large numbers on Friday.

“What happened yesterday was a theatre play in which the roles were assigned.

“We have only one opponent, that of Senegal, (current President) Macky Sall,” he said.

The embattled politician insisted that no one could stop him from running to lead his country. “I am now more than ever a candidate” for the February 2024 presidential election, only God can prevent my candidacy… No human being can prevent it, ” he added.

During the build-up to the ruling on Tuesday, the leadership of his party, Yewwi Askan Wi coalition, had also called for protests on Friday and again on May 19.

“The people have to mobilise to support Ousmane Sonko in this fight,” Khalifa Sall, one of the coalition chiefs, told a press conference.

Sonko remains popular among the five candidates that ran in the last presidential elections in 2019 in which he came third with 687,523 votes below President Sall, and second placed Idrissa Seck. But now he must cross the hurdle of possible legal restriction before him to be able to give the top job another shot.

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Politics

Burkina Faso releases 4 French spies after Moroccan intervention

Published

2 days ago

December 20, 2024

Ifeoluwa Dada

In a diplomatic spat over their imprisonment, France and Morocco announced Thursday that four French nationals detained in Burkina Faso for a year had been freed after mediation from Morocco.

They were spies, according to a prior statement made by the director of France’s foreign intelligence organisation, the DGSE.

A request for comment was not answered by the DGSE or a representative of the French military, which is in charge of the agency.

Since December 2023, they have been held in Ouagadougou.

President Emmanuel Macron hailed King Mohammed of Morocco on Wednesday for his intervention, “which made possible the liberation of our four countrymen who had been held in Burkina Faso for a year,” according to a statement from the French administration.

King Mohammed and President Ibrahim Traore of Burkina Faso were also commended by Morocco’s foreign ministry, which stated that “this humanitarian act” was made possible by their positive bilateral ties.

In October, France made peace with Morocco, one of its former protectorates, after three years of hostilities between Paris and Rabat stoked by immigration concerns and the disputed Western Sahara region.

Morocco offers Burkina Faso and other military-ruled Sahel republics Atlantic trade.

However, France’s relations with former West and Central African colonies, such as Burkina Faso, remain difficult. In Ouagadougou, French troops and diplomats were ejected, the defence attache and ambassador were asked to depart, and certain French media were suspended.

The military junta that took control in 2022 in Burkina Faso has been criticized by international rights groups for cracking down on free expression and harassing dissidents to handle a security crisis precipitated by Al Qaeda and Islamic State extremists.

Politics

Ghana: President-elect Mahama appoints anti-corruption team

Published

3 days ago

December 19, 2024

Ifeoluwa Dada

According to a statement released by his transition team on Wednesday, Ghana’s President-elect, John Dramani Mahama, has designated an anti-corruption committee to investigate allegations of wrongdoing.

When he takes office next month, Mahama, the leading opposition candidate in the presidential election held on December 7 and who received almost 56% of the vote, has pledged to reclaim the proceeds of corruption and hold those responsible for it accountable.

In anticipation, an anti-graft squad has been established. The parliament’s Committee on Assurances, which has previously raised suspicions of governmental corruption, is chaired by MP Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwah.

An investigative journalist, a private attorney, a former auditor general, and a former police officer with experience in high-profile robbery cases make up the other three members.

After looking into alleged financial irregularities that took place during the previous administration, Daniel Dumelovo, the former auditor general, was fired.

Recovering lost assets and fighting corruption were two of Mahama’s main campaign pledges.

“He intends to hit the ground running on these commitments,” the statement said.

Eight years after leaving office, former President Mahama is back to head the West African country. Despite not being personally contaminated, he faced criticism during his 2012–2016 administration due to claims of political corruption.