While the collection of sponsorships for the presidential election is about to begin in Senegal. In Casamance, stronghold of Senegalese opponent Ousmane Sonko, we still believe in his candidacy. The vote is scheduled for next February and the opponent has been detained since the end of July. In Ziguinchor, where the political activities of the former Pastef party were slowed down after the dissolution of the movement, its supporters intend to remobilize.
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With our correspondent in Dakar, Juliette Dubois
In the streets of Ziguinchor, the marks of the June demonstrations are still there: remains of barricades, burned cars. The party room Pastef, dissolved at the beginning of August, was condemned and the shutters of the little white house are closed. But a few “Free Sonko” banners appeared. And the activists affirm it: they are still behind their imprisoned leader.
“ Pastef is a spirit. They can dissolve the papers like that, but the motivation is still there. People will fight for this party. And everywhere, even in the village, when I go there, people ask me how I’m doing », explains Boubacar Goudiaby who is a supporter ofOusmane Sonko.
Soon the launch of a “Sonko president” coalition
Ousmane Sonko’s sympathizers and supporters are therefore organizing themselves to continue to campaign. Seydou Mandiang is deputy coordinator of the former Pastef Ziguinchor: “ We have cells at the neighborhood level. No one can stop these people from meeting around tea under a palaver tree and discussing their activities. And then we also leverage social media today. »
The launch of a “Sonko president” coalition is announced soon, it could help circumvent the dissolution. Bassirou Coly, municipal youth coordinator: “ There are other parties there who have legal receipts. In any case, this will allow us to carry out our activities legally without being in the conflict as Macky Sall wants. »
Ziguinchor town hall now operates without its mayor who delegated his powers from prison.
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