Senegal's opposition leader Ousmane Sonko, who's been staging a hunger strike in protest against his detention, was on Sunday admitted to hospital in the capital Dakar.
Sonko's party, Pastef, said in a statement he had been admitted for emergency care. This was confirmed by two spokesmen and by Cire Cledor Ly, one of Sonko's lawyers.
They did not give further details on the 49-year-old's condition.
Pastef blamed Senegalese authorities for Sonko's failing health. The opposition leader has been in detention since 28 July.
There has been no statement from the government.
President Ousmane SONKO is currently at the hospital, in the emergency room.
— El Malick NDIAYE (@elmaalignjaay) August 6, 2023
Sharing with you the press release of his coalition @yewwi_askanwi.#FreeSonko@SonkoOfficiel @SeydiGassama @aliounetine16 @SonkoOfficiel @AmnestySenegal @amnestyusa @MaryLawlorhrds @hrw @UN_HRC… pic.twitter.com/CNNRspewnk
According to RFI's correspondant in Dakar, Sonko said from his hospital bed that he did not intend to stop his hunger strike.
Meanwhile one of his lawyers, the French and Spanish national Juan Branco is to be expelled to France. Branco was arrested on Sunday in Dakar for supporting Sonko.
Juan Branco vient d’être libéré sous contrôle judiciaire, avec un ordre d’expulsion vers la France. C’est un immense soulagement. Merci à tous pour votre mobilisation. #JuanBranco pic.twitter.com/8SEjd0TwAf
— Robin Binsard (@RobinBinsard) August 7, 2023
Fierceful critic of President Sall
Sonko, who recently declared himself candidate for the February 2024 presidential election, began his hunger strike two days after he was re-arrested and charged with "fomenting insurrection".
His party was then dissolved.
Sonko has been engaged in a bitter power struggle with Senegal's authorities – notably President Macky Sall – since 2021, when he was placed under investigation in a moral corruption case.
On 1 June Sonko was sentenced in absentia to two months in prison.
He and his supporters denounced the conviction as politically motivated. Many in Senegal denounced it as part of a clampdown on civil liberties.
Opposition leader Ousmane #Sonko and the journalist Pape Ale Niang placed under custody. #Internet restricted.
— Hawa Ba #FreeSenegal🇸🇳 (@niallee04) July 31, 2023
Sad day for #democracy in #Senegal
Authoritarianism in march in a country that used to be labeled as beacon of democracy in Africa.#FreeSenegal #KeepItOn pic.twitter.com/Jpx4KwYujE
The conviction also sparked clashes that left 16 dead according to the government, 24 according to Amnesty International, and 30 according to Pastef.
Potential ineligibility
The charges and convictions against Sonko have raised a question mark over his eligibility to run for the presidency.
His lawyers insist that he can still run.
Senegal's parliament passed a law on Saturday that effectively restores the right of two other key opposition lawmakers – Khalifa Sall and Karim Wade – to run in the election.
The vote cleared any person pardoned from an offence to run for office.
(with AFP)
