Pastef: Saisit Parquet Contre Arona Ndoffène Diouf pour Menaces

• Pastef has formally appealed to the Dakar public prosecutor regarding statements made by Arona Coumba Ndoffène Diouf targeting Ousmane Sonko.
• Diouf, a member of Kiiraay and former minister-counselor, allegedly stated, "We must find a solution for Ousmane Sonko. It is time to stop him."
• Pastef deems these remarks "extremely dangerous" and believes they could constitute endangering state security in Senegal.
• The complaint arises amid a political split between President Bassirou Diomaye Faye's Kiiraay party and Ousmane Sonko's Pastef.
• Pastef also criticizes what it calls the normalization of hate speech within the presidential movement and demands strict application of the law.

This legal interpretation highlights the heightened scrutiny on public statements by political figures and their affiliates, particularly when perceived as threats or incitement to action against a public official.

Pastef has formally lodged an appeal with the public prosecutor regarding remarks made by Arona Coumba Ndoffène Diouf, a prominent member of the newly formed Kiiraay party. These statements, delivered during a Kiiraay press conference on a Monday, specifically targeted Ousmane Sonko, who holds the positions of National Assembly president and Pastef leader. The National Political Bureau of Pastef issued a communiqué on Wednesday, October 28, condemning Diouf's words as "extremely dangerous".

Arona Ndoffène Diouf, formerly a minister-counselor to Macky Sall, reportedly declared, "We must find a solution for Ousmane Sonko. It is time to stop him." This assertion prompted Pastef to urge the Dakar public prosecutor to intervene. Cheikh Bara Ndiaye, a Pastef deputy, had previously alerted religious authorities and the public to the grave nature of these declarations, emphasizing their potential for serious repercussions.

Pastef's appeal to the prosecutor is grounded in the belief that Diouf's statements could constitute an "atteinte à la sûreté de l’État," or endangering state security in Senegal. This legal interpretation highlights the heightened scrutiny on public statements by political figures and their affiliates, particularly when perceived as threats or incitement to action against a public official. The incident underscores the potential for legal action based on such perceived risks in political discourse.

This development unfolds against a backdrop of significant political realignment, marked by a clear rupture between President Bassirou Diomaye Faye and his former mentor, Ousmane Sonko. The launch of Kiiraay, officially named "Kiiraay – Les Patriotes républicains," by President Faye, cemented this separation from Sonko's Pastef. President Faye has already positioned Kiiraay as the "premier parti du Sénégal," signaling a claim to political preeminence. Sonko, in response, has indicated his intention to "measure, in the ballot box, the true balance of power" in upcoming elections, setting the stage for future electoral contests. Arona Coumba Ndoffène Diouf himself has declared his candidacy for mayor of Dakar and previously advocated for a seven-year presidential mandate, a proposal that was disavowed by Aminata Touré.

Beyond the immediate complaint, Pastef's communiqué also voiced concerns over what it perceives as a normalization of hate speech within the presidential movement. The party alleges that certain individuals are openly calling for the head of state to employ force against Pastef and its leader, Ousmane Sonko. This broader accusation points to a climate where political rhetoric is seen as escalating to potentially dangerous levels, necessitating careful consideration of speech risks.

Pastef further contends that the perceived impunity enjoyed by those responsible for instigating and carrying out violence between 2021 and 2024 contributes to an environment that encourages further calls for violence. In light of these concerns, Pastef has directly called upon President Bassirou Diomaye Faye to put an end to what it describes as "excesses emanating from his party Kiiraay" and has demanded the strict application of the law to all parties involved. This sequence of events occurs amidst ongoing tensions between the executive branch and the parliamentary majority, following Sonko's election as president of the National Assembly after his departure from the Primature in May.

Lawyers and compliance officers should note the heightened scrutiny on public statements by political figures and their affiliates in Senegal. This incident underscores the potential for legal action, including charges of endangering state security, based on perceived threats or incitement to violence, requiring careful consideration of speech risks in political discourse.

Source: Original reporting via local Senegalese media