In a sharp reaction to the opposition’s latest legal move, Ousmane Sonko, leader of the Pastef movement, has labeled the constitutional appeal as a deliberate political plot aimed at blocking his return to the National Assembly. The former Prime Minister’s statement underscores a deepening political crisis in Dakar, where institutional mechanisms are increasingly weaponized in partisan battles.
« This is nothing short of political scheming, » Sonko declared, accusing unnamed lawmakers of exploiting the judiciary to serve narrow interests. « The constitutional council has no jurisdiction over this matter, yet they have dragged it into their crusade. They know full well that their case lacks legal merit. »
Highlighting concerns over the state’s institutional integrity, Sonko warned that any attempt to weaponize constitutional bodies would be met with a robust constitutional defense. « If they misuse state power to target us, we will deploy every legal tool at our disposal under the Constitution to counter their maneuvers, » he asserted.
The controversy stems from a June 1st communiqué in which opposition deputies and independent legislators formally petitioned the Constitutional Council. Their goal? To overturn the May 24th decision by the National Assembly’s Bureau, which reinstated Sonko as a deputy following his removal earlier this year. The appeal hinges on the claim that his 2024 election violated constitutional prohibitions—specifically Article 54—due to his prior role as Prime Minister, which allegedly created an irreconcilable conflict of interest.
