Senegal’s Opposition Leader, Ousmane Sonko, Orchestrates Loud Pots-and-Pans Protest

In the vibrant heart of West Africa, the political landscape is currently being stirred by Ousmane Sonko, a figure who’s risen to prominence as a leading opposition figure in Senegal. His name has been synonymous with protests and political unrest lately, sparking a surge of interest around the globe. According to Agence France-Presse (AFP), Sonko has resorted to unique, grassroots methods of rallying support by banging pots and pans when traditional means of hosting a political rally were thwarted by local authorities.

On July 15, Sonko orchestrated this peculiar yet powerful demonstration, symbolically clanging kitchen utensils outside his home for a few minutes to kick-start the protest. The core reason for this unusual gathering was to officially announce his candidacy for the presidential election, slated for February 25, 2024. An official party statement confirmed that Sonko was unanimously chosen as the PASTEF-Patriots’ candidate, despite him being under house arrest in Dakar since May 28.

The 49-year-old political leader has faced several roadblocks in his political career, including past convictions and jail terms. Regardless, his candidacy has been confirmed, bringing a complex twist to the political scenario in Senegal. Sonko’s charisma and the controversy surrounding him have drawn substantial local participation in the protest, with numerous people joining the cacophonous demonstration in Dakar, and key southern towns like Mbacke and Ziguinchor.

Sonko’s turbulent political journey is marked by several legal tussles. In May 2023, he received a suspended six-month sentence after appealing against a defamation and public insult conviction from a legal face-off with Minister Mame Mbaye Niang. Moreover, on June 1, 2023, Sonko faced a two-year imprisonment sentence for allegedly “corrupting young people”. These judgments triggered immediate and violent demonstrations in several towns, including Dakar, Ziguinchor, and Kaolack.

These protests, however, led to the tragic loss of innocent lives, pushing Amnesty International to step in. The non-governmental organization has urged Senegalese authorities to initiate an independent and transparent investigation into the deaths of at least 23 individuals, inclusive of three children. These casualties occurred during the violent protests on June 1 and 2, 2023, raising alarming questions about armed civilians’ presence alongside security forces.

A significant segment of Senegal’s population and observers believes that the judiciary seems more interested in quelling the voices of the regime’s opponents than scrutinizing alleged financial misconduct within the presidential camp.

After much speculation, the incumbent President Macky Sall announced on July 3 that he would not seek re-election for a third term in the 2024 elections, adhering to the constitutional two-term limit. Sall’s decision has brought temporary relief to the political climate following a year of sporadic unrest and violent protests in this ordinarily peaceful West African nation.

According to France24, Ousmane Sonko has warned that Senegal might plunge into “indescribable chaos” if his presidential candidacy is barred due to any judicial manipulation by Sall’s administration. With Sall’s supporters arguing that a constitutional change in 2016 reset his term count, allowing him to run again, the 2024 presidential election in Senegal promises to be a tightly contested and closely watched event, with Sonko at the center of it all.