Activists from Pastef, the party of Ousmane Sonko, in Dakar, in February 2019. CARMEN ABD ALI / AFP
Two prominent members of Senegal’s main opposition party have been released in two separate cases, their lawyers and party told AFP on Wednesday (July 19th).
Read also: In Senegal, an opponent charged with insulting the head of state, Macky Sall
El Malick Ndiaye, the national communications secretary of Senegal’s African Patriots for Work, Ethics and Fraternity (Pastef) party, was released on bail after being charged with “acts or maneuvers aimed at compromising public safety and spreading false news”said party spokesman Ousseynou Ly and lawyer Cire Cledor Ly. “El Malick Ndiaye is accused of an audio of which he is not the author, which he disputes and whose paternity has been claimed by an identified person”said the lawyer.
Birame Souleye Diop, vice-president of the party and member of parliament, was released on Wednesday after being charged on July 11 with insulting the president in a case concerning some of his statements concerning the head of state, Macky Sall, according to his lawyer, Moussa Sarr. “For the moment, no trial in sight”said the lawyer, who did not specify the conditions of the release of the opponent.
Read also: In Senegal, the presidential movement is torn over the name of its future candidate for the 2024 election
The Pastef is headed by Ousmane Sonko, the most determined opponent of Macky Sall, who was sentenced to two in prison in June for a sex scandal. The verdict, which made the opponent ineligible for the presidential election of February 2024, sparked the most serious riots in Senegal for years, which left sixteen people dead. Mr. Sonko is blocked by the security forces at his home in Dakar, ” held captive “ according to him, since May 28.