Africa-Press – Senegal. The leader of Pastef-Les patriotes (opposition), Ousmane Sonko, arrested on Friday and placed in police custody, is being prosecuted on seven counts, including that of appealing to insurrection, said Saturday, the prosecutor of the tribunal de grande instance of Dakar, Abdou Karim Diop.
« He will be prosecuted for calling for insurrection, criminal association, undermining state security, conspiracy against state authority, acts and maneuvers to compromise public security and create serious political disturbances , association of criminals in connection with a terrorist enterprise, but also cell phone theft, » said Mr. Diop during a press briefing.
The alleged facts of “theft of a mobile phone belonging to a gendarme […] are just a trigger for his arrest which was moreover imminent”, he specified.
“All the procedures set out, which caused inestimable material damage, as well as around forty deaths between March 2021 and June 2023, inevitably converge on Ousmane Sonko”, argued the prosecutor.
‘’Le ministère public, que je représente, dispose de l’opportunité des poursuites. Par conséquent, tant que les faits ne sont pas prescrits, nous pouvons toujours les engager. Nous avons décidé de mettre en mouvement l’action publique, c’est pourquoi [Ousmane Sonko] est aujourd’hui placé en garde à vue et nous sera incessamment présenté’’, a ajouté Abdou Karim Diop.
The procedure concerning him “is practically completed”, he added, assuring that “the State […] will take all the necessary measures to maintain order and preserve the safety of persons and property from all threat ».
‘’De retour de la prière du vendredi, les agents des renseignements généraux postés devant mon domicile […] se sont mis à me filmer. J’ai […] arraché le téléphone et demandé à la personne de le déverrouiller et d’effacer les images qu’elle a prises, ce qu’elle refusa’’ de faire, a expliqué Ousmane Sonko sur son compte Twitter, avant son arrestation.
La coalition Yewwi Askan Wi (YAW), dont est membre le parti politique d’Ousmane Sonko, ‘’condamne énergétiquement cette énième dérive d’un pouvoir autoritaire et violent’’.
In a statement, the YAW leadership conference also “demands” the “immediate and unconditional release” of Mr. Sonko.
« Ousmane Sonko feels in no way concerned by this grotesque procedural pretext », reports the Sud Quotidien newspaper in its Saturday edition, quoting the opponent’s lawyers.
‘’Il n’y a plus d’appels à l’insurrection’’
Les pouvoirs publics ont ordonné la levée du ‘’blocus’’ de la cité Keur Gorgui, le quartier dakarois où est domicilié Ousmane Sonko, parce qu’‘’il n’y a plus d’appels à l’insurrection’’, a déclaré le ministre du Commerce et porte-parole du gouvernement, Abdou Karim Fofana, mardi.
« Today, there are no calls for insurrection, there is no risk of disturbing public order. Therefore, there is no reason to restrict traffic in the Keur Gorgui neighborhood, » said Mr. Fofana during a government press conference.
“In June, there were many calls for demonstrations, many calls for insurrection,” he argued.
The presidential majority often accuses Mr. Sonko of calling for insurrection. The opponent denies this and maintains that his rights, including that of a fair trial, are violated by the authorities.
It is up to the public prosecutor to indicate the course to be taken, concerning Ousmane Sonko, had answered the government spokesperson to the question of whether the opponent tried and sentenced to two years in prison, on June 1 , will be stopped or not.
Mr. Sonko did not appear before the criminal chamber of the Tribunal de Grande Instance of Dakar, which found him guilty of « corruption of youth ».
Tried for acts of rape and death threats against Miss Adji Sarr, he said he never received a summons from the criminal chamber asking him to appear. The court denied it.
The required prison sentence is likely to prevent him from presenting his candidacy for the presidential election of February 25, 2024, according to his lawyers.
For almost two months, security forces watched his home and prevented his relatives, activists, political allies and lawyers from visiting him.
Violent demonstrations took place in Dakar and other cities in the country after Ousmane Sonko was sentenced to two years in prison.
They resulted in the death of 16 people, according to the Ministry of the Interior. Amnesty International reported 23 deaths, the opposition speaking of 29 or even 30 deaths.
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