The protests in Senegal

The protests in Dakar, Senegal have been going on for several days. Leo Correa / AP   

 

Large protests in Senegal: "Ready to die"  

 

Large protests are underway in the Senegalese capital Dakar following the rape allegations against opposition leader Ousmane Sonko, reports Africa News. 

 

A pro-opposition protester tells the newspaper he is "ready to die" to protect leader Sonko.  

 

The trial against Sonko has been going on for months and several deaths have been reported during the protests. Among other things, two young men and a policeman are said to have died in the unrest during last week.  

 

Sonko, who plans to run for president in 2024, faces ten years in prison. 

Senegalese opposition leader Ousmane Sonko. Sylvain Cherkaoui / AP  

Politicians can be jailed after rape allegations  

 

Prosecutors are demanding ten years in prison for the Senegalese opposition leader Ousmane Sonko who is accused of rape, reports AFP.  

 

He is accused, among other things, of rape and of having made death threats against an employee at a beauty salon in Dakar. The opposition leader denies wrongdoing and says he was at the salon to get a massage for his chronic back pain.  

 

Sonko, who is very popular with the younger population, believes the trial is politically motivated with the aim of stopping him from standing in the 2024 presidential election.  

 

The trial, which is said to end on the first of June, has created large protests in the country's capital, Dakar.