Politician slaps a woman MP in Senegal parliament, sparking brawl
Al JazeeraMAR 10 2023
In a press conference on Thursday, Senegalese opposition leader Ousmane Sonko stated that he will run for president next year despite facing rape charges. He added that he cannot envision that any judge would sentence him to the five years in jail he potentially faces.
This comes after lawyers for both Sonko and his accuser revealed on Wednesday that a judge ordered him to face a criminal court trial for the alleged rape and death threats against an employee of a beauty salon he reportedly went to for a massage.
This trial could potentially threaten his plans to run for president in 2024 and stoke political tensions in the country, with skirmishes having already broken out in March 2021 after Sonko was first summoned and arrested.
Ousmane Sonko is the victim of a politically-motivated conspiracy planned by the Sall government, which has the clear intent to eliminate him from the 2024 presidential elections. Senegal's justice system is not independent and is once again working to bar those that would work against the establishment in a healthy manner.
Sonko's position as a rival to Pres. Sall has nothing to do with the charges against him. The charges against him — including his brazen threats of retaliation against the victim — must be deeply investigated. The judiciary must work thoroughly to hold him accountable for his wrongdoing and not let politics sway the decision.