Africa-Press – Senegal. The Forces vives du Sénégal F24 platform announces that it has submitted to the Dakar regional office of the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) a « memorandum on the state of democracy and human rights in Senegal » and having spoken to him about the « treatment reserved for the opponent Ousmane Sonko [and] 1,062 other citizens detained for their opinion or their political affiliation ».
« A delegation of F24 led by its coordinator, Mamadou Mbodj, met, this Tuesday, August 29, 2023, the regional office of the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, represented by Mr. Ayeda Robert Kotchani », declares the platform in a press release sent to the APS.
“Were present at this meeting Aliou Sané, Yolande Camara, Me Abdoulaye Tine, Aminata Touré and Fatou Blondin Diop”, affirm its leaders.
The press release from the platform bringing together political parties and civil society organizations adds that the regional representative of the OHCHR, Ayeda Robert Kotchani, accompanied by several members of the institution, « welcomed the initiative before receiving from the hands of the coordinator of F24 the memorandum on the state of democracy and human rights in Senegal”.
This document was “produced” by the said platform, specifies the same source.
She adds that « the delegation also, by a letter, drew the attention of the diplomatic representation of the treatment reserved for the opponent Ousmane Sonko [and] 1,062 other citizens detained for their opinion or their political affiliation ».
Meetings with international institutions, diplomatic representations and religious guides
“This meeting marks the start of a series” that the F24 platform will have “with international institutions, diplomatic representations and religious guides,” the statement said.
Ousmane Sonko, arrested on July 28, was charged with calling for insurrection, criminal association, undermining state security and conspiring against state authority.
The opponent placed under arrest warrant on July 31 is also accused by the Dakar prosecutor’s office of acts and maneuvers likely to compromise public security and create serious political unrest, criminal association in connection with a terrorist enterprise and flight.
On the day of his indictment, the Minister of the Interior, Antoine Diome, announced the dissolution of his party.
« Pastef […] has frequently called his supporters to insurrectional movements, » argued Mr. Diome, which the leaders of the said political formation and its activists continue to deny.
Mr Sonko, now on a hunger strike in prison, was ranked third in the 2019 presidential election, behind former Prime Minister Idrissa Seck and Macky Sall, who won re-election.
Pastef-Patriots and other political formations constitute one of the main parliamentary groups in the legislature elected on July 31, 2022.
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