When executive, legislative and judicial powers are exercised with favour or ill will, justice and good governance must be the casualty. This is why those who are entrusted with such powers are required to take an oath or make an affirmation to exercise them without fear or favour, affection or ill will.
Individual human beings however cannot be entirely entrusted with power. This is why safeguards are created to enable a society to put the excesses of power of one organ or the other under scrutiny and measures are created to restrain such abuses of power.
The Senegalese high court had the responsibility of reviewing Ousman Sonko’s case after actions were taken to get his nomination documents and insert his name on the list of voters, in order to prepare the ground for his participation in the 2024 presidential election.
In a landmark decision yesterday, it has become apparent that those responsible for giving and receiving nomination papers have no right to deny Ousman Sonko equal treatment in receiving the required documents for his nomination and removing his name from the list of voters.
The courts have acted magnanimously by making an independent and impartial decision that shows that the judicial system in Senegal is still not broken. It is hoped that ultimately every Senegalese who is fit to contest will not be obstructed in any way in contesting the 2024 presidential election.
This is how to bring stability to Senegal and allow President Macky Sall to transfer power to his successor in peace.
