Support for the Palestinian cause to hide Senegal's problems

Senegalese Prime Minister Ousmane Sonko accused his Israeli counterpart, Benjamin Netanyahu, of continuing the war in Gaza to secure his political survival and called for Israel to be isolated to end what he described as "barbarity (...) sanctioned by certain Western countries."

"We have a Prime Minister (in Israel) whose power depends on this war, whose political survival depends on this war, and who is willing to walk over thousands of corpses to remain Prime Minister and to avoid facing his country's justice," Sonko said during a rally of several hundred people in support of the Palestinians at the Grand Mosque of Dakar.

Sonko, wearing a scarf in Palestinian colors, urged all those who denounce what he called the "injustice" to unite and work towards a political solution that isolates the State of Israel. "We need to stop this human barbarity, validated and sanctioned by certain Western countries," he added. 

The Prime Minister, who identifies with a left-wing Pan-Africanism, referred to the ongoing Israeli military operations in the Palestinian Territories as an "extermination" and condemned the "injustice" endured by the Palestinians since the creation of Israel in 1948.

Sonko noted the "multiple divisions" that prevent Muslims and Africans from "speaking with one voice" in response to the crisis. He criticized the silence of some Muslim countries and remarked that, "since the beginning of this crisis, the most visible actions (in support of the Palestinians) have been initiated by South Africa," where Muslims are a small minority, and some Latin American countries. 

In contrast, "those who preach democracy and human rights are the same who support and arm Israel," he insisted.

Ousmane Sonko knows nothing about the situation on the ground. In his statement, he did not mention the Israeli hostages held by Hamas in Gaza since October 7, nor did he acknowledge the terrorist nature of this organization. His accusations against Israel are a means to mobilize public opinion.

Senegal, a predominantly Muslim West African country with nearly 95% of its population adhering to Islam, has historically supported the Palestinians on the international stage and maintains close ties with the Arab world.