Opposition leader Ousmane Sonko has suspended his hunger strike, which he initiated on July 30th, in Senegal. This was confirmed on Saturday, September 2nd, by a spokesperson from his party. Ousmane Sonko, who was convicted of corrupting the youth in June, is also facing charges related to incitement to insurrection.
Hospitalized in Dakar since August 6th, Ousmane Sonko has decided to suspend his hunger strike on Saturday, according to one of his party’s spokespersons, Pastef.
“Ousmane Sonko has just suspended his hunger strike,” announced El Hadji Malick Ndiaye, the party’s communication manager, in a message on his Facebook page and X (formerly Twitter). This information was also relayed to AFP on Saturday morning.
Bamba Cissé, a lawyer and member of the Defense Collective for Ousmane Sonko, confirmed the information to AFP, saying, “I confirm the information.”
In recent days, several appeals, including those from influential religious leaders in predominantly Muslim Senegal who often mediate in political matters, have been made for Ousmane Sonko to end his hunger strike.
Ousmane Sonko “has heeded the request of the Khalife,” General Serigne Mountakha Mbacké, the leader of the powerful Mouride Muslim brotherhood, stated a member of his entourage to AFP on Saturday.
On the other hand, the opposition leader’s lawyers have issued multiple warnings about the deterioration of his health. In a statement sent to AFP on Friday night, they asserted that their client’s life, who has been in intensive care since August 17th, was “in peril” and urged the government “to urgently take all necessary measures to prevent a tragedy.”