Opposition leader jailed in Senegal, 9 killed in protests in the country

International Desk: Black smoke can be seen rising from the university campus in Dakar. Several buses were set on fire here. The government spokesperson, however, claimed that the situation was under control. Sonko came third in the last presidential election. Senegal's rule is that if a politician is convicted of a serious crime, he can no longer run for president. Rape is a much more serious crime than leading young people astray.

However, it is not yet clear whether Sonko will be able to contest the presidential election again to mislead the youth. However, Sonko was not punished in the rape case. Allegedly, he sexually assaulted a woman at a massage parlor and threatened to kill her. Government lawyers wanted 10 years jail for that. But the court said, there is not enough evidence for this charge. At least nine people have been killed in protests that have erupted in Senegal following the jailing of opposition leader Ousmane Sonko.

Sonko was accused of raping and misleading youths. He was jailed on the second charge. And then the protest against this verdict started from Friday morning. The security forces opened fire on the protest. Nine people died because of it. The home minister said on television that nine people had died in the protests in the two cities. Sonko was a former presidential candidate. Rape charges against him were not proved. But he was jailed for two years for misleading youths. Sonko is very popular among the youth.

Sonko alleged that the rape allegations were made so that she could not run for the presidency. He boycotted the proceedings. But before the verdict, he was forcibly taken to Dakar. Meanwhile, protests started in the streets of Senegal after the court verdict. The bus was set on fire. Stones were pelted at riot police. Sonko's party, PASTEF, alleged that the ruling was nothing more than political vendetta.