Sonko is widely seen as President Macky Sall's greatest potential political challenger in the upcoming 2024 election and his supporters maintain that the allegations are aimed at derailing his political future. The ensuing protests, in which at least four people were killed last week, have been accelerated by broader, long-standing grievances with Sall's administration.
"The conspiracy has failed. Our client will go home," attorney Cire Cledor Ly told reporters. "We have had this result thanks to the mobilization of the people." The opposition coalition known as M2D has urged peaceful protests this week, urging the president "to take concrete action to meet the democratic demands of the Senegalese people." Chief among those was the release of Sonko, charged with rape and making death threats.
Sall easily won re-election in 2019 with more than 58% of the vote. His opponents fear he will seek to extend his mandate with a third term as presidents in neighbouring Guinea and Ivory Coast did last year though Sall has not commented publicly on his intentions yet.
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