The ECOWAS Court of Justice ruled today that Senegal did not violate Ousmane Sonko’s rights.

Ousmane Sonko, acting on behalf of the Senegalese political party PASTEF, filed an application with the Court alleging violations of its human rights by the State of Senegal, specifically the right to defense and a fair trial; the right of access to a lawyer; the right to freedom of movement; the right to physical and moral health for himself and his family;

Sonko criticized the arbitrary nature of PASTEF’s dissolution and accused Senegal of violating its right to participate in the management of its country’s public affairs, as well as its right to vote and have the suffrages of Senegalese voters.

The West African Community Court in Abuja today rejected the arguments of the counsels defending the president of the African Patriots of Senegal for Labor, Ethics, and Fraternity (Pastef), whose party has been dissolved.

The ECOWAS court ruled that none of Ousmane Sonko’s rights had been violated, effectively dismissing his lawyers’ requests.

The ECOWAS Court of Justice also declined to rule on two additional requests made by Sonko’s counsel because the same cases are still pending in Senegalese national courts. These are the dissolution of Ousmane Sonko’s political party and the removal of Sonko from electoral lists.

The ECOWAS court’s decision on Thursday is undoubtedly a huge setback for Ousman Sonko and his lawyers in their attempt to create international momentum in order to exert pressure on the Senegalese government. Meanwhile, the Supreme Court in Dakar is hosting the most important legal battle for Ousmane Sonko’s political future as we write these lines.

The Supreme Court of Senegal must rule on the legality or otherwise of Ousmane Sonko’s removal from the electoral lists. If the removal is confirmed, Ousmane Sonko will be permanently removed from the presidential election on February 25, 2024, with all legal recourse in Senegal exhausted.