The main opponent of Macky Sall’s regime will also have to pay a fine of CFA 200 million to the Minister of Tourism, Mame Mbaye Niang, who was suing him for defamation.
The Court of Appeal of Dakar has just increased the sentence, in the first instance, pronounced against the leader of ‘Pastef/Les Patriotes’ party, Ousmane Sonko. From two months, the Court of Appeal has increased to six months suspended the sentence of the mayor of Ziguinchor (South).
Judge Mamadou Ciss Fall found the main opponent of Macky Sall guilty of insult and defamation and confirmed the sum of CFA 200 million in damages to be paid to the civil party, Mame Ndiaye. The latter believes he was defamed by Ousmane Sonko who accused him of having been pinned down by a report of the General State Inspection (IGE) in the management of CFA 29 billion of the Community Agricultural Domains Program (PRODAC) when he was Youth Minister.
On March 30, Mr. Sonko was sentenced in the first instance to two months in prison and 200 million CFA francs in damages. Not satisfied with the verdict, Mame Niang filed an appeal. The appeal trial opened on April 17 and then was automatically postponed to May 8, 2023.
After this conviction, comments are being made about the possibility of Ousmane Sonko being a candidate in the 2024 presidential elections. Some believe that he is still eligible, while some argue the opposite. The Mayor of Ziguinchor has six days to appeal.
ARD/ac/fss/abj/APA