The Senegalese political party, Pastef Les Patriotes, founded by opposition leader Ousmane Sonko, is fighting for its political survival after being dissolved by the government last July. Sonko’s lawyers have filed a petition before the ECOWAS Court of Justice, seeking to reinstate the political rights of the party and its leader in anticipation of the 2024 presidential elections.
The Senegalese political scene has been in turmoil since the dissolution of Pastef Les Patriotes, a party that had gained influence in recent years. Ousmane Sonko’s opposition lawyers have filed a series of petitions before the ECOWAS Court of Justice to challenge this dissolution. The stakes are high because the Court’s decision could have a significant impact on Senegal’s political landscape as the 2024 presidential elections approach.
The Senegalese government had justified the dissolution of Pastef by accusing the party of inciting insurgent movements, which allegedly led to loss of life, injuries, as well as acts of vandalism and looting of public and private property. This decision had been strongly criticized by Pastef’s supporters, who believed that no valid legal argument justified this drastic measure.
The Pastef Les Patriotes party was founded in January 2014 by Ousmane Sonko, who was then a tax and domain agent. Sonko was dismissed from civil service in 2016 for serious misconduct but managed to be elected as a deputy under his party’s banner in 2017. Pastef had gained popularity over the years and had 27 deputies in the National Assembly after the 2022 legislative elections as part of the opposition inter-coalition, which secured 80 seats out of a total of 165.
