Politics

Senegal: Supreme court against Sonko’s appeal of libel conviction

Published

12 months ago

January 6, 2024

The presidential hopes of Senegalese opposition leader Ousmane Sonko, were dealt a blow on Friday as the country’s Supreme Court ruled against his appeal of his libel conviction.

Lawyers involved in the case said that the court denied Sonko’s appeal against a May conviction that resulted in a six-month suspended sentence for libel after deliberations that lasted from Thursday into the early hours of Friday.

According to Senegalese law, Sonko cannot compete in the presidential race while such a conviction is upheld.

Sonko’s solicitors stated that the loss was not irreversible. His attorney, Cire Cledor Ly, told reporters outside the Dakar courthouse, “The fight will go on.”

But the plaintiff’s lawyer, El Hadji Diouf insisted that he remain ruled out. “We have just recorded a great victory. The … sentence is upheld, so Ousmane Sonko will not be able to participate in the election.”

Since 2021, Sonko, has been involved in several legal battles. His accusation of rape in 2021 set off a deadly nationwide unrest that has since flared up periodically over a series of court rulings.

These have complicated his intentions to run for president in the election scheduled for February 25 and fueled unrest that has damaged Senegal’s standing as one of the most stable democracies in West Africa.

The controversial politician Sonko received 687,523 votes to finish third in the most recent presidential election.

The date of the presidential contest is set for February 25. Several parties have declared their intention to run for office by electoral law, but they must first obtain enough public support to move on to the sponsorship stage.

A candidate for president must obtain the signatures of 0.8% to 1% of the electorate. These signatures need to be gathered in each of the minimum seven of Senegal’s fourteen regions, with a minimum of 2,000 sponsorships.

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.