Senegalese opposition leader Ousmane Sonko has no plans to make peace with President Macky Sall and suggested he may try to disrupt next year's elections if he is not allowed to run.
He said in an interview with France 24 television on Thursday.
"There will be no elections in this country if President Macky Sall wishes to counter my candidacy," Sonko said from his home in the capital Dakar, where he has been under effective house arrest since he was sentenced to two years in jail in June on charges stemming from an alleged rape.
Sonko denies wrongdoing and says the charges are meant to stop him from running in a presidential election scheduled for February.
Reuters has not been able to identify his deadline to file an appeal, but it is expected this month. He has to turn himself into authorities first and it is unclear what he plans to do.
Sonko, popular among the West African country's disaffected youth, called for protests following the June sentencing.
Rioting ensued, in which thousands of protesters torched buildings and vehicles and threw rocks at police, who responded with tear gas and, some say, live rounds. At least sixteen people died.
The unrest was fuelled in part by concerns that Sall would run for a third term in office in the February election.
Sall has since said he will not run, blowing open the election race and garnering praise from global leaders, many of whom saw it as a victory for democracy in a region beset by a series of recent coups.
Still, Sonko is unmoved.
"It's not up to Sall to choose our next president," he said.
Latest Stories
-
CEO of Agblor Lodge commended for coastal protection efforts
2 mins -
Complicated media landscape changes the dynamics of election coverage – Gyan-Apenteng
14 mins -
2024 polls: We need to deal with the political capture of the media landscape – Suzanne Nti
34 mins -
StanChat launches Cohort 4 of Women in Tech incubator with Ashesi’s GCIC
43 mins -
GES gets clearance to recruit 2022 batch of Degree Holders from Colleges of Education
58 mins -
Don’t use missing BVR kits in voter registration; we’ve got their serial numbers – Kofi Adams to EC
1 hour -
Speaker recalls Parliament for emergency sitting on May 17 after Majority’s petition
1 hour -
Prof Gadzekpo reminds journalists of their independent observer role in elections
1 hour -
2 dead, 5 hospitalised in Spintex gas explosion
2 hours -
We can all help improve the media’s credibility – Audrey Gadzekpo
2 hours -
2024 polls: Don’t add up to mistrust in state institutions – Sheikh Aremeyaw to media
2 hours -
Ghana backs Palestine’s bid for full United Nations membership
3 hours -
Prempeh I International Airport will open the Ashanti Region for trade and investment – Ahiagbah
3 hours -
Election 2024: The media should set the right agenda – Prof Audrey Gadzkpo
3 hours -
GRA/SML contract: Respect presidency’s decision to withold full KPMG report – Deputy AG
4 hours