A regional court in West Africa rendered on Friday, its support to the Senegalese government in a legal dispute involving incarcerated opposition leader Ousmane Sonko. Sonko had initiated legal proceedings, asserting that the state had infringed upon his human rights.
Over the last two years, Ousmane Sonko, aged 49, has encountered a series of legal challenges, encompassing accusations such as libel and rape, all of which he vehemently denies.
In July, he was detained on charges of insurrection, leading to the dissolution of his political party by the government. Furthermore, his exclusion from the electoral roll effectively precludes his participation in the upcoming presidential election slated for next February.
The ECOWAS court, representing the West African political bloc, has dismissed Ousmane Sonko’s assertion that he has been treated unjustly by the state.
Supporters of Ousmane Sonko contend that the charges against him bear political motivations, alleging a systematic targeting of political opponents by President Macky Sall. President Sall, however, refutes these claims. In protest, Sonko has resorted to hunger strikes, leading to occasional hospitalization.