The Dakar District Court decided to reinstate Ousmane Sonko on the electoral lists. This decision cancels that of the Senegalese state which had removed Sonko following a conviction in absentia in a separate case. The Supreme Court, having previously annulled a similar judgment in Ziguinchor, sent the case back to Dakar. The Dakar court thus confirms the Ziguinchor judgment, relaunching the debate on judicial independence in Senegal.

Me El Hadji Diouf, state lawyer, declared to the media, in a measured tone, that this decision did not discourage them. “Ousmane Sonko’s supporters usually assert that the Senegalese justice system lacks independence. However, recent events demonstrate that their accusations were nothing but lies aimed at tarnishing the image of Senegal. The judge’s decision today proves his total independence. He did not receive any orders, contrary to what they claim. They wrongly accuse Macky Sall of controlling the country according to his wishes, which is false.”

The lawyer also stressed their intention to take the case again to the Supreme Court. “What pleases me about this is that we will take the same approach as last time. My colleagues, while celebrating their victory in Ziguinchor, forgot that a decision by a minor judge is not final. We will take the matter to the next level, all the way to the Supreme Court. It must be recognized that the Supreme Court cannot rule itself out. We will go to the Supreme Court and we will show them that we will win, because the situation, being the same, will lead to the same decision. »

The question remains open as to the execution of the decision of the Dakar court by the Senegalese state, pending further intervention by the Supreme Court.