Politics

Senegal: Court resumes hearing of rape suit against opposition leader, Sonko

Published

2 years ago

May 24, 2023

Court proceedings resumed on Tuesday for the trial of Senegalese opposition leader, Ousmane Sonko over rape allegations.

The politician was charged with rape and making death threats against an employee of a beauty salon in Dakar but denies all wrongdoing and insists that his legal travails are politically motivated and aimed at scuttling his bid for the 2024 presidency.

The court sat amid a strong security presence in Dakar, the capital city, as there were concerns over likely protests by Sonko’s supporters which could descend into pandemonium as with recent occasions.

His lawyer, Massokhna Kane said they had not been served a summon to appear in court.

“So, that’s why today the lawyers intervened to say firstly there was this element, this irregularity. And then there’s also the fact that there were security concerns which meant that Sonko could not come, even if he wanted to,” said Kane.

Ndèye Khady Ndiaye, the lawyer for the former salon owner, who is also joined in the suit and accused of complicity in the alleged rape, asked the court for more preparation time and further adjournment of the hearing but withdrew the prayers as the prosecutor dismissed their demands.

“All the defendants are free, there is absolutely no urgency to try this case today. So, what happened is, all the lawyers, both those of Ndèye Khady Ndiaye and of Ousmane Sonko, decided to withdraw from the room,” said Ndiaye’s lawyer, Macodou Ndour.

The trial comes weeks after Sonko suffered a setback to his political ambition as an Appeal Court handed him an extended six-month sentence following his trial for libel which puts his political future in doubt as he might be disqualified from running for the 2024 presidential elections if the ruling stands.

Sonko was one of the top five candidates in the 2019 presidential election, finishing third with 687,523 votes, just behind President Sall and second-placed Idrissa Seck. If convicted, that could be the end to his plans to run again for president.

Related Topics:Featured Ousmane Sonko Senegal Sonko

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Politics

Burkina Faso releases 4 French spies after Moroccan intervention

Published

2 days ago

December 20, 2024

Ifeoluwa Dada

In a diplomatic spat over their imprisonment, France and Morocco announced Thursday that four French nationals detained in Burkina Faso for a year had been freed after mediation from Morocco.

They were spies, according to a prior statement made by the director of France’s foreign intelligence organisation, the DGSE.

A request for comment was not answered by the DGSE or a representative of the French military, which is in charge of the agency.

Since December 2023, they have been held in Ouagadougou.

President Emmanuel Macron hailed King Mohammed of Morocco on Wednesday for his intervention, “which made possible the liberation of our four countrymen who had been held in Burkina Faso for a year,” according to a statement from the French administration.

King Mohammed and President Ibrahim Traore of Burkina Faso were also commended by Morocco’s foreign ministry, which stated that “this humanitarian act” was made possible by their positive bilateral ties.

In October, France made peace with Morocco, one of its former protectorates, after three years of hostilities between Paris and Rabat stoked by immigration concerns and the disputed Western Sahara region.

Morocco offers Burkina Faso and other military-ruled Sahel republics Atlantic trade.

However, France’s relations with former West and Central African colonies, such as Burkina Faso, remain difficult. In Ouagadougou, French troops and diplomats were ejected, the defence attache and ambassador were asked to depart, and certain French media were suspended.

The military junta that took control in 2022 in Burkina Faso has been criticized by international rights groups for cracking down on free expression and harassing dissidents to handle a security crisis precipitated by Al Qaeda and Islamic State extremists.

Politics

Ghana: President-elect Mahama appoints anti-corruption team

Published

3 days ago

December 19, 2024

Ifeoluwa Dada

According to a statement released by his transition team on Wednesday, Ghana’s President-elect, John Dramani Mahama, has designated an anti-corruption committee to investigate allegations of wrongdoing.

When he takes office next month, Mahama, the leading opposition candidate in the presidential election held on December 7 and who received almost 56% of the vote, has pledged to reclaim the proceeds of corruption and hold those responsible for it accountable.

In anticipation, an anti-graft squad has been established. The parliament’s Committee on Assurances, which has previously raised suspicions of governmental corruption, is chaired by MP Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwah.

An investigative journalist, a private attorney, a former auditor general, and a former police officer with experience in high-profile robbery cases make up the other three members.

After looking into alleged financial irregularities that took place during the previous administration, Daniel Dumelovo, the former auditor general, was fired.

Recovering lost assets and fighting corruption were two of Mahama’s main campaign pledges.

“He intends to hit the ground running on these commitments,” the statement said.

Eight years after leaving office, former President Mahama is back to head the West African country. Despite not being personally contaminated, he faced criticism during his 2012–2016 administration due to claims of political corruption.