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Senegal: Arrest of the top opposition leader Ousmane Sonko

The top opposition leader in Senegal, Ousmane Sonko | Image credit: AFP/SEYLLOU

Ousmane Sonko, presidential candidate has faced a string of legal troubles in recent years.

The top opposition leader in Senegal, Ousmane Sonko | Image credit: AFP/SEYLLOU

Senegalese opposition leader has been arrested late Friday, one of his lawyers told.

The exact reason for his arrest is not yet known.

As a reminder, In June, Sonko was sentenced in absentia to two years in prison for allegedly sexually abusing a beauty salon worker in 2021.

The politician denied the allegations as being politically motivated. He has been under house arrest in the capital Dakar since May 28.

The hot-tempered politician and presidential candidate has faced a spate of legal troubles in recent years in the West African country, which he claimed were part of a conspiracy to keep him out of politics.

Mr Sonko has long publicly urged President Macky Sall to pull out of the 2024 elections.

President Sall said in early July that he will not seek a third term in the in the February 2024 presidential election.

One of Sonko’s lawyers told that Sonko was arrested on charges of “stealing a mobile phone” and “inciting violence”.

Lawyers said Sonko had been under house arrest but had recently been allowed out and arrested when returned from Friday’s prayer.

Early Friday afternoon, Sonko said on social media that security forces stationed outside his home filmed him.

“I ask people to be willing to stand up to this endless abuse,” he wrote in the post.

He said he picked up one of his mobile phones and asked for the photos to be deleted, but he was denied.

According to his lawyer Sonko took the cell phone out of this police officer’s hands and was subsequently arrested.

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