My dear compatriots, In Dakar, on Thursday, February 09, 2023, my motorcade received tear gas grenades for a simple visit to the town hall of La Patte d’Oie; whereas yesterday, Macky Sall, president of the APR, paid himself, quietly, a political convoy to Thiès under the pretext of a decentralized council of ministers.
In Mbacké, also this Thursday, February 09, 2023, the police commissioner summoned the leaders of the party, organizers of the meeting of Pastef, tomorrow, to tell them that the activity could not be held on the grounds that there are only two signatories on the information letter to the administration.
As we write these lines, some of them are under arrest, including a member of the National Assembly, the Honourable Sheikh Thioro Mbacké.
The Prefect’s decision is shocking. Indeed, by opening the quotation marks to quote article 96 of the Penal Code of Senegal in force, as the legal basis of the «prohibition», the prefect of the department of Mbacké, Mr Amadoune Diop, reproduced the provisions, not of the Penal Code, but those of the law N*74-13 of 24 June 1974, moreover repealed, in its contrary provisions, by Article 18 of Law No. 78-02 OF 29 January 1978 relating to meetings. This package will not pass!
We have filed a motion for interim relief with the Supreme Court to overturn this shameful decision.
Pending the decision of the judge of interim measures, the Mega Meeting of Mbacké remains! To the Prefect who bowed to the illegal orders of his superiors to assume the consequences before history.
Consequently, I call on activists and supporters to maintain the very strong mobilization noted that creates psychosis in Macky Sall to the point that he needs to be «reassured» by a paid mobilization of his moribund political leaders and allies.
In any case, I had already formulated my intention to carry out my Friday prayer in the religious city of Touba before going to Mbacké to ask for prayers with Serigne Amdy Modou Mbenda Fall, khalife of baye fall, I intend to do so by the grace of God.
No dictatorship prospered in Senegal and no more crimes will be tolerated. Macky Sall would do well to understand, while there is still time, to preserve civil peace.
Ousmane Sonko