Senegal opposition unites after Sonko ruling to challenge government

The Front for the Defense of Democracy and the Republic (FDR) has responded sharply to the Constitutional Council’s decision to reinstate Ousmane Sonko as a member of the National Assembly. In a statement released on Thursday, the opposition coalition argues that the ruling does not resolve the broader political tensions surrounding the former Prime Minister’s return to parliament.

The FDR acknowledges the Council’s position that it lacks jurisdiction to rule on the allegations of forfeiture raised by challengers, yet insists this does not invalidate the ongoing disputes over Sonko’s parliamentary comeback. The coalition maintains that the circumstances of his reinstatement are deeply flawed, accusing both Sonko and the ruling party of fostering a climate of ‘incompetence’ and ‘arrogance’ in governance.

Criticism also extends to Sonko’s recent media statements, which the FDR claims distort the nation’s identity and undermine democratic values. The coalition warns that Senegal is navigating dangerous waters, with power increasingly exercised outside constitutional guardrails. While vowing to continue its legal and institutional battles, the FDR is now calling for a unified opposition front to counter what it describes as the government’s authoritarian drift.

Beyond the Sonko case, the coalition urges all political forces, civil society groups, trade unions, youth movements, and pro-democracy advocates to rally behind a broad alliance. The goal: to present a credible alternative to the current administration and restore confidence in Senegal’s democratic institutions. The statement follows a day after the Constitutional Council upheld the procedures that allowed Sonko to reclaim his parliamentary seat, closing the chapter on legal challenges from the opposition.