Ousmane Sonko: Senegalese opposition leader explains reasons for resuming hunger strike

The Senegalese main opposition figure, Ousmane Sonko, says he has resumed a hunger strike which was recently stopped after he was persuaded by clerics.

Mr. Sonko was jailed on various charges including criminal association with a terrorist enterprise, undermining state security and inciting insurrection.

The opposition leader said his current hurdles were politically motivated by President Macky Sall and targeted at preventing him from running in the 2024 presidential election in Senegal.

Sonko said his latest hunger strike is a demonstration of solidarity with other political activists who had been unjustly arrested in the West African country for expressing their political opinions.

Recall that a Senegalese court ordered that the name of imprisoned opposition politician Ousmane Sonko be reinstated in the electoral records according to his lawyers.

Mr. Sonko’s lawyers suggested their client, who finished third in the 2019 presidential race, might run again in February 2024.

However, the State’s judicial agent stated in a statement that the Senegalese authorities would appeal the judgment and that Mr. Sonko might still not participate in the forthcoming political exercise.

Sonko’s name has not been shortlisted among presidential candidates and this would prevent him from participating in the February 2024 presidential race.

The conviction of Mr. Sonko in June triggered days of violent protests that killed 16 people according to the government, and up to 30, according to his party.