Senegal’s public prosecutor revealed on Saturday that opposition politician Ousmane Sonko is now facing seven additional charges. These charges are separate from the moral corruption case that triggered violent protests last month.
According to Senegal’s public prosecutor, Abdoul Karim Diop, the new charges against Sonko include calling for insurrection, criminal conspiracy, undermining state security, plotting against state authority, acts and manoeuvres to compromise public security, creating serious political unrest, and criminal conspiracy in connection with a terrorist enterprise. Additionally, Sonko is accused of theft.
The arrest of Sonko occurred on Friday under the allegation of stealing a police officer’s phone and posting a subversive message on social media, as stated by the prosecutor.
Abdoul Karim Diop clarified, “Ousmane Sonko himself confessed to violently snatching the mobile phone of a female gendarme, and such actions are legally categorized as theft. Although some may find it amusing on social media, the reality is that this theft incident led to his imminent arrest, and he will face prosecution for it as well.”
Ousmane Sonko, a former civil servant, gained prominence during the 2019 presidential election, where he secured the third position.
Earlier this month, President Macky Sall announced that he would not seek a controversial third mandate, which has added to the political landscape in Senegal.
