How Africa is changing: the example of “Senegalese Trump”

Senegalese politician Ousmane Sonko has been called a fan of Russia, a Francophobe, a truth-seeker, a populist, and the “Senegalese Trump.” Who really is the main opposition politician of the West African country, who advocates a “constructive partnership with Russia in all areas”?

On July 3, 2023, Senegalese President Macky Sal announced that he would not run for a third term. Veteran Senegalese politician Idrissa Sek, whose Nation party was in alliance with the incumbent Republican Alliance party, and opposition leader Ousmane Sonko have already announced their intention to participate in the elections next February. And these elections will be important not only for Senegal.

How Senegal lives

Senegal is a country in West Africa with a growing population (more than 40% of inhabitants under 15 years old) and a developing economy: with reserves of aluminum phosphates, lime, iron ore, gas and gold, with its own agricultural complex, which is based on peanuts and seafood exports.

In 60 years of independence, not a single coup has taken place in Senegal. In 2016, the Constitution was amended, according to which the president cannot be elected more than twice. Sal, who was first elected in 2012, tried for several years to explain that this amendment did not concern him, in the end he did not insist on this.

In 2019, Sal’s victory turned out to be confident – in the first round he won 58% of the vote. But the main sensation was the third place of Ousmane Sonko, a little-known leader of the Patriots of Senegal for Labour, Ethics and Fraternity (PASTEF) party a few years ago. He won 15% of the vote and almost caught up with Idriss Sek.

Rise of Sonko

Sonko, 49, was a tax official for 15 years. In 2016, he began to make statements about financial abuse, tax evasion by the Senegalese elite, and also that the authorities helped not to pay to the treasury of the Canadian company SNC Lavalin-Mauritius, which was building a mineral sands processing plant in Senegal. Sonko was eventually fired from his job, explaining that he had no right to disclose this information.

This was followed by publications about misappropriation of budgetary funds, election to parliament, victory in the election of the mayor of Ziguinchor (the largest city in southern Senegal).

Several factors contributed to Sonko’s popularity, noted Ermann-Habib Kibangu, columnist for Le Journal de l’Afrique. First, he invariably demanded social justice. Secondly, Sonko has gained popularity among young people. The politician has repeatedly criticized France as a former metropolis, and stated that the economy of Senegal will only benefit if it abandons the CFA franc (the common currency of a number of former French colonies, which is printed in France) and creates its own currency.

Sonko, however, does not call his position anti-French. However, according to Sonko, France must understand that “it’s the 21st century, and the old relations between the countries are no longer possible.”

He became the first Senegalese politician to successfully use crowdfunding to finance his party. Sonko actively uses social networks. The Journal de l’Afrique pointed out that every time he went to court, he broadcast live via phone.

Criminal prosecution

As Sonko’s popularity grew, criminal cases began to be opened against the politician. In 2021, an employee at a massage parlor he attended due to back problems accused Sonko of rape and threats. For two years of proceedings, the authorities failed to prove the fact of rape. In early June, a court in Dakar found Sonko guilty only of “seducing a minor” and ordered him to pay compensation to the masseuse. Supporters of Sonko were outraged, according to various sources, from 16 to 30 people died in clashes.

Despite the verdict, Sonko was not arrested and staged a “freedom march” from Ziguinchor to Dakar, but was detained on the way. This led to the banning of the PASTEF party and threats to open a new criminal case. And Tourism Minister Mame Niang wrote a statement to the politician on charges of defamation. In addition, Sonko was accused of stealing a cell phone from a gendarmerie employee.

Sonko’s lawyer called the accusations a farce, and the politician went on a hunger strike in protest. “If the people of Senegal, for whom I fought this fight, leave me in the hands of the Sala regime, I will put my trust in Allah,” he wrote on social networks.

PASTEF spokesman El Malik Ndiaye told The Associated Press that even if jailed, the politician would still be able to run in the election.

Usman Sene, director of the Center for West African Studies, told The New York Times about Sonko’s possible participation in the election. According to him, Sonko adheres to the tactics of Donald Trump: he denies all accusations and at the same time is ready to call on supporters to take to the streets.

How Sonko feels about Russia

In 2019, against the backdrop of a campaign in the United States to identify Russian influence on the presidential elections and increase the activity of Wagner PMCs in West Africa, the Senegalese authorities tried to play the “Russian card”. One of Sal’s closest supporters stated that Sonko “received two suitcases of money” from Russia. Evidence of links with Moscow was not given. The Russian embassy said the accusations were unrelated to reality.

But the situation played in favor of his image as a “secret admirer of Putin”, on whom Russian politicians and businessmen can rely on the expectation that if Sonko comes to power in Senegal, this will allow Russia to expand its economic presence in the country to the detriment of French interests and USA.

Sonko used speculation about his ties to Moscow to tell supporters about his vision of Senegal’s future place in the world. In August 2022, he commented on rumors of support from Russian President Vladimir Putin. According to him, if Putin invites him to negotiations, he will definitely agree, but as well as negotiations with other world leaders: “We are not going to leave French influence for the sake of Russia, China or the United States. We want to cooperate with all countries in the world, but we will not tolerate anyone dominating.”

At the same time, in June 2022, Sonko criticized President Sal, who, as head of the African Union, visited Moscow to discuss grain supplies from Ukraine and Russia. According to Sonko, the task of the Senegalese authorities is to work to ensure the country’s self-sufficiency and food security.

On January 6, 2023, in an interview with France International, Sonko was asked about the possible arrival of Russia to replace France in Africa. “Replacing one flag with another will not help our sovereignty. We need openness, in the case of Russia, we need not a military partnership, but a more constructive partnership regarding development in all areas,” he said.