Senegalese opposition politician Ousmane Sonko, who was again charged Monday and had his political party dissolved, will remain in custody while authorities investigate his role in fueling deadly riots last month.
(Bloomberg) — Senegalese opposition politician Ousmane Sonko, who was again charged Monday and had his political party dissolved, will remain in custody while authorities investigate his role in fueling deadly riots last month.
Sonko, who was arrested on Friday, will remain in detention while the investigation into the charges for plotting an insurrection, criminal conspiracy and theft, among other crimes continue, according to his lawyer, Djiby Diagne.
Authorities also dissolved Sonko’s Pastef-Les Patriotes party because of its leader’s and supporters’ role in the June unrest that broke out after he was sentenced to two years in prison for morally corrupting a youth.
Sonko, 48, was considered one of the biggest threats to Senegalese President Macky Sall’s ruling coalition winning next year’s presidential elections until his conviction last month and the dissolution of his party.
The sentencing could disqualify him from contesting the elections.
“This is a politically orchestrated process against someone who could potentially be the next president,” Diagne said by phone.
A government spokesman didn’t respond to a request for comment.
Read More: Senegal’s Sonko Appeals Sentence to Avoid Vote Disqualification
On Monday, authorities restricted internet access over the spread of “hateful messages” on social media following calls for protests because of Sonko’s imprisonment. Senegal recently cut access to mobile internet services in June following the deadly riots.
All TotalEnergies stations in Senegal will be closed for three days from Aug. 1 because of the “social and political situation” in Senegal, the company said in a statement Monday. Gas station operators have lost 6.5 billion CFA francs ($10.9 million) in material damages due to the riots, Mohamed Chaabouni, president of the Professional Association of the Petroleum Industry told state-owned Agence de Presse Senegalaise on June 13.
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