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Senegal: Constitutional Council declares itself incompetent in Ousmane Sonko case, Guy Marius Sagna defends Sonko
via SeneNews1 min read
Deputy Guy Marius Sagna has reacted to the Constitutional Council's decision on June 17, 2026, regarding the appeal against Ousmane Sonko's continued presence in the National Assembly. The high court declared itself incompetent to hear the case, stating, "The Constitutional Council is incompetent to hear the challenged decision." Following this verdict, Guy Marius Sagna posted a message on social media expressing support for Ousmane Sonko and criticizing his opponents. The parliamentarian wrote, "Those who did not want Sonko as a presidential candidate are the same who did not want Sonko as prime minister, and are the same who do not want Sonko as a deputy and president of the National Assembly." Sagna believes that attempts to prevent Ousmane Sonko from exercising certain political responsibilities have failed. He added, "Unfortunately for them, Sonko remains a deputy and president of the National Assembly. The people are happy." This reaction occurs amidst political debate surrounding Ousmane Sonko's institutional status, as the Constitutional Council's decision concludes the proceedings before this jurisdiction at this stage.
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Oumar Sow, a former minister under the Macky Sall administration, has commented on the recent decision by the Constitutional Council regarding an electoral dispute. In a social media post, he stated that the ruling confirms the strength of Senegal's electoral system and indicates a lack of major malfunctions that would necessitate a deep institutional reform. Sow emphasized that the Constitutional Council's decision demonstrates that Senegal does not have electoral problems requiring the creation of a constitutional court. He further argued that institutions that prove effective should be consolidated rather than replaced.
SeneNews is providing live coverage of the 2026 World Cup group stage match between Portugal and DR Congo, taking place on June 17, 2026, at 17:00 Dakar time at NRG Stadium in Houston. The article includes live scores, team compositions, and match updates. Cristiano Ronaldo is confirmed to start for Portugal, marking his sixth World Cup appearance. The starting lineup for Portugal includes Diogo Costa, João Cancelo, Tomás Araújo, Renato Veiga, Nuno Mendes, João Neves, Vitinha, Bernardo Silva, Bruno Fernandes, Pedro Neto, and Cristiano Ronaldo. DR Congo's starting eleven features Lionel Mpasi Nzau, Aaron Wan-Bissaka, Chancel Mbemba, Axel Tuanzebe, Steve Kapuadi, Arthur Masuaku, Samuel Moutoussamy, Ngal'ayel Mukau, Edo Kayembe, Cédric Bakambu, and Yoane Wissa. Roberto Martinez is the coach for Portugal, and Sebastien Desabre leads DR Congo. The match will be updated minute by minute with real-time scores, goals, substitutions, warnings, statistics, and key moments.
France secured a 3-1 victory against Senegal in their opening match of the 2026 World Cup, a result that nonetheless ignited discussions regarding the French team's performance. Former American international Landon Donovan criticized France's attitude on Fox Sports, describing them as "arrogant, a bit easy, almost content with the minimum." This drew a sharp response from Thierry Henry, a consultant for the tournament, who defended the 2018 world champions by highlighting the strength of the Senegalese opponent. Henry stated, "I don't understand. Because we're not leading 1, 2 or 3-0 after 15 minutes, we have to make these kinds of remarks? Let's focus on the match, we all knew what was going to happen. If people ignore how Senegal plays, how strong they are, that's their problem." Zlatan Ibrahimovic also came to France's defense after the match in New Jersey, suggesting that criticisms stemmed from a misinterpretation of their on-field behavior. The former Swedish star commented, "Ignorant people will say it's arrogance, intelligent people confidence." Despite the debate surrounding their start, France secured a crucial win against a Senegalese team known for its solidity and intensity, marking a successful beginning to their World Cup campaign.