Ousmane Sonko: Who be Ousmane Sonko di opposition leader wey Senegal court sentence to jail

Senegalese court don sentence opposition leader, Ousmane Sonko, to two years in jail for "corrupting di youths".

Sonko dey seen as one of di most prominent opponents of President Macky Sall. Dis verdict mean say e no fit run for presidency in di upcoming elections, wey dey scheduled for February 2024.

Mr. Sonko no attend di trial. Im co-accused, di manager of di beauty salon wia e bin dey allegedly involved in a sexual assault on a massage practitioner dia, also receive a two-year jail sentence for promoting corrupt sexual behaviour.

Tensions for di kontri don rise in recent days over suspicions say president Macky Sall fit seek a third term. Police barricade di entrance to Ousmane Sonko residence and use tear gas against his supporters, who bin dey say di trial dey politically motivated. Di Senegalese goment don reject dis accusations.

On Thursday, di kontri initiate one national dialogue wia some opposition parties go engage with current President Macky Sall to find ways to alleviate di political tensions. Ousmane Sonko party, however, decline di invitation to participate in di dialogue.

Meanwhile, di judge no order dia immediate arrest wey be sometin wey dey unusual for dis situation. Ousmane Sonko still dey for im residence while di co-defendant no dey allowed to go home. E no dey clear why dem make dis decision or ife go change at some point.

Authorities bin charge di 48-year-old wit alleged rape and say im dey make death threats against an employee of one beauty salon for Dakar.

Accuse wey Sonko deny.

On Wednesday, Sonko say im go lead one "caravan of freedom" across di kontri as im travel to face judges for Dakar.

Sonko, wey get ogbonge following among Senegal large youth population, don brand di trial as political plot wey dem wan use stop im bid for di 2024 presidential elections for di kontri.

"I go meet una for Dakar: either (President) Macky Sall step back, or we go face am to put an end to dis," Sonko tell hundreds of im cheering supporters outside im home for di southern city of Ziguinchor afta di second day of im rape trial wrap.

Di Senegalese opposition leader also get one libel case wey dey hang ova im head.

Last week, court bin convict Sonko of libel and im receive six-months suspended sentence sake of say im accuse di minister of tourism of embezzling funds. Sonko don since appeal di case.

Who is Ousmane Sonko?

Ousmane Sonko na Senegalese opposition leader, wey be founder of di party PASTEF, and also di current mayor of Zinguinchor, for di south of Senegal.

Dem sabi am well for im populist agenda and im criticism of goment.

President Macky Sall bin dismiss am as tax inspector for 2016 ontop allegation say im fail respect im duty of reserve afta e attack Macky Sall governance.

Im be di youngest candidate to run for di 2019 presidential election against di incumbent, Macky Sall, wia im come third.

From a case of alleged rape to political kasala

For beginning of February 2021, one 20-years-old girl wey dey do massage work for one private practice for Dakar, file complain against Ousmane Sonko.

She accuse am of sexual assault and say im dey threaten am wit death.

Inside different public statements, Sonko deny di accuse come add say na conspiracy wey president Macky Sall dey allegedly arrange against am.

Di president don repeatedly tok say im hand no dey inside wetin Sonko dey go through.

Meanwhile, tensions dey rise for Senegal as Sonko call on im supporters last week to join am on one march of defiance to di capital Dakar, ahead of di Thursday court ruling.

Security forces bin try stop di march, dem sabi as di 'Caravan of Freedom' on Sunday.

Dem arrest Sonko and carry am go im home for Dakar.

Im don since accuse security forces say dem hold am illegally, while dem claim say dem escort am home to avoid disturbing public order.

Dis don lead to clashes for some parts of di capital. Di protesters attack and set on fire di houses and vehicles wey belong to those wey dey close to di govment.