Politics

Sonko’s Conviction: Legal team to appeal

Published

2 years ago

June 2, 2023

Following the conviction and sentencing of Senegalese opposition leader, Ousmane Sonko on Thursday, his legal team has promised to explore all legal means to appeal the judgement.

Sonko was found guilty of “corrupting young people” which consists of poaching or encouraging the debauchery of a young person under the age of 21, and sentenced to two years in prison.

One of his lawyers, Djiby Diagne also commented that the sentence could threaten Sonko’s political ambition. “it also appears to threaten his eligibility under the electoral code,” “Ousmane’s Sonko’s candidacy is in jeopardy,” the lawyer said.

The judgement however did not specify whether the politician should be arrested. “The decision to arrest him or not depends on the public prosecutor,” Diagne said.

Sonko was arrested on Sunday after embarking on a march back to the country’s capital which drew a crowd, mainly of young supporters, and was marred by clashes between youths and security forces in which one man was killed in the south of the country.

Sonko was earlier convicted and sentenced for libel.

His legal travails have led to demonstrations by Sonko’s supporters who are majorly young people. The protests have also led to the death of twelve persons, and attacks on the homes of at least two of the president’s close aides.

He has insisted that his legal travails are politically motivated and aimed at scuttling his bid for the 2024 presidency.

Related Topics:Featured Ousmane Sonko Senegal

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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.