Turbulent Times Ahead For Senegal
Now is the appropriate time for Macky Sall to set the captive Ousmane Sonko free, failure to do so points to fierce political storms ahead and Senegal sinking further into political and economic volatility.
Protests in Senegal and some countries over the detention of popular opposition politician Ousmane Sonko signals that the current government of Macky Sall is sinking from popularity to instability. Home to the Central Bank of West African Central (BCEAO) and once adored as a peaceful West African country, Senegal is fast descending into uncontrollable anarchy, and the recent global dimension to the trouble at home, resulting in protests across the country’s embassies in the United States of America and Europe indicates turbulent times are on the horizon for the government of Macky Sall.
Sonko’s Sin
Political unease erupted after Ousmane Sonko was handed a two-year jail sentence for what the government terms “corrupting the youth.” But that the young in Senegal could protest in support of their political icon means they believe he hasn’t done anything unholy toward them. The purported offense is a smokescreen for profound suspicions deep within the current government, many watchers of political events in the country believe.
Bobi Wine is a Ugandan parliamentarian and a former presidential candidate with 2M followers on Twitter. On June 4, he tweeted from the handle @HEBobiwine: “A court sentenced Senegalese Opposition Leader Sonko to two years in prison for ‘corrupting the youth’-a move believed to be an attempt to block him from running for President next year. This has sparked off widespread protests in the country once seen as a beacon for Democracy on the continent.”
Ousmane Sonko sinned in the perception of the current government because he decided to eye the presidency. His Twitter page, @SonkoOfficiel, displays: “#Focus2024,” and he clarifies that he is a candidate for the 2024 presidential elections.
Global Reaction
The world is joining the protesting youths of Senegal in solidarity, just as many people joined protesting Nigerians during the #EndSars protests of 2020. Twitter users in Nigeria are vigorous in promoting the hashtag #FreeSenegal. On June 5, Flagboi, a Twitter user with over 45,000 followers, tweeted from the handle @theflagboii asking: “What is happening in Senegal? #freesenegal.” But the Flagboi is not alone in his show of support.
Tweeting from the handle @General_Oluchi and identifying herself as “A Distinguished Field Marshal,” this Nigerian Twitter user with over 146,000 followers has observed that: “After this tweet, a lot of people are now reporting that they see #Freesenegal in their timeline NOW. It wasn’t there before, and many didn’t know what was going on.”
What can President Macky Sall Do?
The current government is already losing the Public Relations war with its highhanded response to protesters and other repressive tactics. For instance, cutting internet availability and limiting access to the free flow of information paints the government in a bad light to genuine lovers of freedom and Democracy. It shows a government desperate to control information and reflects dictatorial tendencies, which should have no place in a genuinely democratic country. But it is not too late for President Macky Sall to beat a hurried retreat from the high road to political perdition and save his sinking self and country from the trauma of prolonged instability and economic and social woes. Citizens of Senegal and their global family of sympathizers have suffered enough. In the worldwide information superhighway of Virtual Private Networks and Elon Musk’s Starlink internet connection, Macky Sall’s politics and diplomacy may be unable to withstand a voluntary, worldwide campaign supporting the protesters and their demands.
As a matter of national and international urgency, President Macky Sall should see to the freedom of his greatest political threat, Ousmane Sonko. He is endowed with the political will to do so. Whatever the alleged offenses of Sonko may be, it is not too much if the President invokes his prerogative of mercy and sets a political prisoner free. Senegal and Democracy would be better for his political gesture across a dividing bridge. Sonko’s freedom would enhance Democracy in Senegal and Africa. On the other hand, his continued detention further diminishes the little light of Democracy shining on the continent.
A freed and uninhibited opposition will do his government a tonne of good and earn him immense global charm. Macky Sall must read the signs in the room nicely. The solidarity protests rising around world capitals points to the early throes of an anti-Sall movement. Now is the appropriate time to tame this crusade before it is blown out of proportion. Keeping a hugely popular opposition politician behind bars paints the picture of paranoia on the part of the government. The detention of Sonko will continue to rile his large army of young supporters at home and abroad to endless government barricades.
Now is the appropriate time for Macky Sall to set the captive Ousmane Sonko free, failure to do so points to fierce political storms ahead and Senegal sinking further into political and economic volatility. But this self-inflicted freefall into insecurity and social mess can be prevented, so the country may return to its once treasured spot as a model for stability for most West African States who are on the brink of political and economic disasters.
Image Source: Twitter, @SonkoOfficiel
About The Author
