Rédaction Africa Links 24 with La rédaction
Published on 2024-03-08 14:59:38
Bassirou Diomaye Faye and Ousmane Sonko, an imprisoned opponent since July 2023, will they be the first beneficiaries of the amnesty? The way is now open for the release of Sonko, as well as his replacement in the presidential election, Bassirou Diomaye Faye, according to the text voted by the government to the deputies. Adopted on Wednesday, February 28 in a Council of Ministers meeting, this measure wanted by President Macky Sall for the “calming of the political and social climate” must now continue its accelerated process before the National Assembly.
According to article 72 of the Constitution of Senegal, the President of the Republic has a period of 15 days to promulgate adopted laws, a period that can be halved in case of emergency declared by the National Assembly. The speed of this procedure is crucial for Diomaye Faye, whose participation in the electoral campaign, beginning this Saturday, is eagerly awaited by his supporters. Article 74 also states that an appeal to the Constitutional Council can be filed within 6 days following the adoption of the law, which could influence the promulgation schedule by the President.
Diomaye Faye’s situation therefore depends on several factors: the decision of the President of the Republic to promulgate the law without waiting for the expiration of the appeal deadlines, the declaration or not of an emergency by the National Assembly, and the absence of challenge to the law before the Constitutional Council. In the case of immediate promulgation, Bassirou Diomaye Faye could be released as soon as the law is published in the Official Journal, potentially before the start of the electoral campaign.
Furthermore, the justice system has the option to grant temporary or automatic release to Diomaye Faye pending the promulgation of the Law, allowing him to fully participate in the electoral campaign without missing a single day. This indicates that the release of Diomaye Faye could occur within a very short time, in less than 2 days, or at the latest on March 19, 2024, which is 15 days after the vote in the Assembly, if all legal and constitutional deadlines are considered. However, the prospect of March 19 seems unlikely given the stated intention by the adoption of this law: to pacify the political space and allow full participation of opponents in the elections.
Read the original article(French) on Senegal Direct
