SENEGAL opposition leader Ousmane Sonko, locked in a stand-off with the country’s authorities for more than two years, was “unreachable” late yesterday, his party said.

Sonko, who has a significant youth following, is facing a rape trial that could result in him being ineligible to run in next year’s presidential election.

Sonko set off from his southern home town for Dakar on Friday to attend the trial, which he has slammed as politically motivated.

His convoy drew crowds of young and enthusiastic supporters, resulting in clashes between youths and security forces in which one man was killed. 

While Sonko has documented his movements live on social media and did so for the first two days of his trip, he did not post anything about it yesterday. 

“President Ousmane Sonko has been unreachable and unreachable for several hours,” his party said in a statement. 

His Pastef party said it would “react to any attack on his physical integrity, his imprisonment or house arrest”. 

Several government officials and Sonko’s lawyers did not respond when asked by AFP about Sonko’s situation and any possible arrest.

He is especially popular among people aged under 20, who comprise half of Senegal’s booming population. – AFP, May 29, 2023.