The rape case against Senegalese opposition leader Ousmane Sonko extended into the early hours of Wednesday, the trial was adjourned, with a verdict expected on June 1, according to the president of the criminal court.
Despite unsuccessful pleas from Sonko and his co-accused for a postponement, the trial resumed on Tuesday after Sonko‘s repeated failure to appear. Citing concerns for his personal safety, Sonko demanded state guarantees before attending the legal proceedings.
Sonko faces charges of rape and making death threats against an employee at a beauty salon in Dakar. The 48-year-old opposition leader vehemently denies the allegations, asserting that he visited the salon seeking a massage to alleviate chronic back pain.
During Tuesday’s hearing, the complainant, Adji Sarr, maintained her accusations, revealing that she had endured abuse by Sonko on five separate occasions. She also disclosed receiving death threats.
The trial of Sonko, which initially commenced on May 16 but was adjourned until May 23 due to his absence, has become a focal point of political tension. Sonko is currently believed to be in Ziguinchor, a city located several hundred kilometers away from Dakar, where he holds the position of mayor.
A conviction for Sonko could potentially render him ineligible to pursue his political ambitions. As the president of the PASTEF-Patriots party, Sonko secured the third position in the 2019 election, challenging the incumbent Macky Sall.
Senegal, traditionally seen as a bastion of stability in tumultuous West Africa, has experienced periods of unrest in recent years, some of which have turned violent. Sonko’s arrest in 2021 triggered protests that resulted in at least 12 fatalities.
Prior to the trial’s commencement on May 16, clashes between Sonko’s supporters and the police claimed the lives of three individuals. These events have exacerbated political tensions, further intensified by President Sall’s refusal to rule out a third term, a move deemed unconstitutional by his opponents.
President Sall assumed office in 2012 when the presidential term was set at seven years. He was re-elected in 2019 when the mandate was reduced to five years. The ongoing trial of Ousmane Sonko adds a layer of complexity to Senegal’s political landscape, heightening existing tensions within the country.