Gambiaj.com – (DAKAR, Senegal) – Bougane Guèye Dany, leader of the Gueum Sa Bopp movement, has accused Senegal’s Prime Minister Ousmane Sonko of weaponizing the justice system to silence political adversaries. In a video released from his office, the media mogul, who also owns Groupe D-Media, declared his intention to respond to a police summons but lashed out at what he sees as an orchestrated attempt to neutralize him politically.
“The police came to my home and my workplace to serve me a summons. But I will never hide behind the youth to avoid it. I am not a coward like Ousmane Sonko. He can use the police and the gendarmerie to imprison me, but he will have to get his hands dirty if he wants to eliminate me,” Guèye asserted in the video. He also accused Sonko of plotting to eliminate other opposition figures, such as Barthélemy Dias.
The summons, issued by the Cybercrime Division, has raised alarms among Guèye’s supporters. The Samm Sa Kaddu coalition, which backs him, denounced the timing of the summons as a provocation and a direct attack on democracy ahead of the legislative elections. In a press release, the coalition stated that the move was a calculated effort to destabilize their electoral list and disrupt the opposition’s momentum.
“The current regime, led by Prime Minister Ousmane Sonko and President Bassirou Diomaye Faye, poses a serious threat to democracy and freedom,” the coalition warned. They called upon national and international communities to take note of the erosion of individual and collective liberties under the administration.
Abdou Mbow, spokesperson for the Alliance for the Republic (APR), echoed similar concerns in a separate statement. He lambasted the government for stifling opposition and using fear to compensate for its failure to address the needs of the Senegalese people. “The government’s priority is no longer to fulfill its promises of change, but to prevent voices of reason from being heard by silencing them,” said Mbow.
Mbow pointed to several instances of alleged political repression, citing the cases of Suzanne Camara, Imam Ndao, and Commissioner Cheikhna Keita, who were all imprisoned after criticizing the government. He also questioned why certain individuals accused of corruption, like Mohamed Dieng, remain free, while others, such as Lat Diop, are incarcerated.
“The regime has adopted the tactics of terror and force because they can no longer convince the people. This is the clearest sign of their weakness,” Mbow added, warning the current administration that “its days are numbered.”
Samm Sa Kaddu further condemned the use of state resources for political purposes, accusing the government of harboring a “cynical desire” to quash dissent. Despite the growing pressure, the coalition vowed to stand firm in defending democracy and protecting civil liberties in Senegal.
Meanwhile, in a related case, prominent journalist Cheikh Yérim Seck was placed in custody following his interrogation. Seck, who is accused of spreading false news and defamation, may face further legal action in connection with revelations he made on Maïmouna Ndour’s show, according to sources who spoke to The Gambia Journal. His potential arraignment is scheduled for Wednesday.
As tensions rise, Senegal’s political landscape is becoming increasingly charged, with opposition voices rallying against what they perceive as a concerted crackdown by the ruling government.
