Afrigather 
In Ziguinchor, southern Senegal, the summing-up for the prosecution in Ousmane Sonko’s rape trial had been Wednesday’s scorching matter.
The trial of Senegalese opposition chief Ousmane Sonko on rape fees adjourned early Wednesday (Could 24), with the prosecutor calling for a 10-year jail time period in a case that has sparked tensions within the West African nation since 2021.
Extremely common amongst younger individuals, Sonko has branded the trial a political plot geared toward scuttling his bid for the 2024 presidency.
The general public prosecutor known as for a 10-year jail sentence for rape, or a minimal of a five-year time period for “corrupting youth.”
Both sentence might bar him from contesting the elections.
Two Zinguinchor residents, the town that voted Sonko a mayor agreed to say the judicial saga was tiring.
“I see that this trial has been a farce from the start”, a younger man carrying sun shades says.
“They didn’t respect any stage of the authorized proceedings. Ousmane Sonko shouldn’t be convicted as a result of he’s harmless and so they haven’t any proof towards him. President Macky Sall has to cease this cabal towards Ousmane Sonko, that’s the reality. We’re drained.”
One other one is extra restrained: “I do not assist any facet; it’s to not play politics, however I believe it’s time to maneuver on. It’s about time.”
“I don’t know the right way to specific it what, actually, actually, we’re actually actually actually uninterested in this example, they only have to assist us, they only have to surrender or I don’t know what however we wish to transfer on.”
A call is predicted to be handed down on June 1, the president of the felony courtroom stated after the listening to concluded within the early hours.
Rape and demise threats
The trial had resumed Tuesday (Could 23) after a week-long suspension, however Sonko failed to point out up for the second time.
The courtroom rejected pleas by his legal professionals for a brand new adjournment, prompting the attorneys to stroll out.
Sonko, 48, has been charged with rape and making demise threats towards an worker of a magnificence salon in Dakar, accusations that he denies.
He has stated he went to the ‘Candy Beaute’ salon for a therapeutic massage for continual again ache and denies any assault.
His co-accused, who additionally denies fees towards her, is the salon’s proprietor, Ndeye Khady Ndiaye.
The prosecution is looking for a five-year time period towards her for alleged complicity in rape, in addition to a yr for inciting debauchery and distributing offensive pictures.
Complainant Adji Sarr maintained her accusations in Tuesday’s listening to, saying she had been abused 5 instances by Sonko. She additionally stated she had obtained demise threats.
Judicial saga
The trial opened on Could 16 however was instantly adjourned after Sonko didn’t attend.
Saying he feared for his security, Sonko had declared final week he wouldn’t seem in courtroom with out state ensures for his private security.
He’s believed to be within the southern metropolis of Ziguinchor, a number of hundred kilometres (miles) from Dakar, the place he’s mayor.
His supporters there have surrounded his residence to stop any try to arrest him.
His lawyer, Cire Cledor Ly, advised AFP by telephone on Wednesday, “I’m in Ziguinchor, near my shopper,” whom he described as “supremely calm” after the developments in courtroom.
He gave no particulars as to the recommendation Sonko’s attorneys could be giving for the way forward for the case.
Lethal clashes
Sonko, president of the PASTEF-Patriots get together, got here in third within the 2019 election towards incumbent Macky Sall.
Senegal is historically a beacon of stability in troubled West Africa, however lately has been buffeted by turbulence that has at instances turned lethal.
When Sonko was arrested in 2021, a number of days of protests left no less than 12 individuals useless.
Three different individuals died throughout clashes between Sonko supporters and police forward of the beginning of proceedings on Could 16.
Political tensions have additionally been stoked by Sall’s refusal to rule out operating for a 3rd time period as president, a transfer his opponents say could be unconstitutional.
Sall was elected in 2012, when the presidential time period was seven years, and re-elected in 2019, when the mandate was decreased to 5 years.
