Get all your news in one place.
100’s of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
France 24
France 24
World
FRANCE 24

Senegal: Ousmane Sonko arrested

Opposition leader Ousmane Sonko, who was arrested on sexual assault accusations and released on bail under judicial supervision, speaks during a news conference in Dakar, Senegal March 8, 2021. © Cooper Inveen, Reuters

Senegalese opposition leader Ousmane Sonko has been arrested by the country's gendarmerie. The news was confirmed late on Friday by members of his Patriots of Senegal party as well as his lawyer, Juan Branco. For more on this rapidly developing story we speak to FRANCE 24's correspondent in Dakar, Sam Bradpiece. 

"What we're hearing so far from Ousmane Sonko's lawyer and from the Senegalese justice ministry is that Sonko was arrested shortly after an incident in the late evening [or] late afternoon during which he grabbed the phone from a gendarme (a law enforcement officer) stationed outside of his home," Bradpiece said.

Sonko is now being held in Dakar where he's being questioned by investigators under accusations of calling for an insurrection and theft of a phone.

"Shortly after this incident Ousmane Sonko did post on his social media networks calling on his supporters to get ready to stand up to what he called 'the abuses of the state'," reported Bradpiece.

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100’s of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
One subscription that gives you access to news from hundreds of sites
Already a member? Sign in here
Our Picks
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.