Link to article: https://allafrica.com/view/group/main/main/id/00088762.html
Amidst the lead up to the presidential election in Senegal, two opposition leaders, Ousmane Sonko and Bassirou Diomaye Faye, have been released from prison. As the two walked out of prison, thousands were outside waiting, rejoicing upon their emergence. While in prison, Sonko had constantly let it be known that he believed that his imprisonment was a politically motivated attempt to derail his presidential campaign for the 2024 election. The release came after weeks of political turmoil initiated by President Macki Sali’s call for a delay of the election. Despite not seeking re-election after 12 years in office, Sali led the election to be delayed from February 25th to March 24th.
Faye’s release and even more so Sonko’s release will bring competition to the upcoming election and could have prominent implications on the future of the country. Sonko’s release saw massive support not just outside of the prison, but across the state’s capital, Dakar. He now has the platform to speak freely and can use his time in prison to shine a bad light on the current Senegalese government, a likely political strategy. Sonko may not be the favorite in the election, but with his reformed position as a politician that had been attempted to be silenced will only cast a larger shadow on the current party and may sway support until the next election. This release is important in Senegal, but has no means of importance to any neighboring countries, therefore nothing will happen outside of the nation.
A certain sense of support for Sonko will be felt across the country as the election finalizes in the coming weeks, conveying the significance that candidates’ voices have on their support and campaigns. However, no international law or international matters apply to this series of events. It does, however, display the contrast between international law and state law as the government was forced to release the two prisoners due to the opinions of others within the state. In international law, there would be no way to enforce actions such as these. The winner of the election taking place a week from now will certain have an impact on Senegal’s foreign policy as well.