Senegalese opposition leader Ousmane Sonko is due to appear in court on Thursday on charges of libel. If found guilty, the political leader could be barred from running in the 2024 presidential elections. The hearing was originally scheduled for March 16 but was postponed after state security services forcibly removed Sonko from his vehicle and escorted him to court, resulting in clashes between police and his supporters. Sonko claims that the altercation amounted to an assassination attempt, as he inhaled a harmful substance that impaired his eyesight and breathing. The incident has escalated tensions in Senegal ahead of Sonko’s court hearing. The opposition leader also faces separate charges of raping a beauty salon employee and making death threats to her, which he denies.
It is worth noting that this is not the first time that opposition leader Ousmane Sonko has clashed with the Senegalese government. In recent years, he has gained a large following by criticizing the country’s political establishment, including President Macky Sall. In February 2021, his arrest on charges of rape and making death threats sparked widespread protests and clashes with police, with many of his supporters alleging that the charges were politically motivated. The latest charges of libel against Sonko are likely to further fuel tensions and political polarization in the country.
