Ousmane Sonko

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Presidential candidate Anta Babacar Ngom greets supporters during her electoral campaign caravan in Dakar, Senegal, Monday, March 11, 2024. Senegal’s only female presidential candidate may stand no chance of winning but activists say her presence alone is helping to advance a decades long campaign to achieve equality in the West African nation. (AP Photo/Sylvain Cherkaoui)

Senegal votes Sunday in a presidential election that has fired up political tensions

By Jessica Donati - Associated Press

Senegal police stands in front of the Supreme Court in Dakar, Senegal, Friday, Nov. 17, 2023, as the court is due to rule on whether opposition leader and presidential hopeful Ousmane Sonko can take part in the upcoming February election despite being struck from the country's voter rolls after his conviction on charges of corrupting youth earlier this year. (AP Photo/Sylvain Cherkaoui)

Senegal opposition party sponsoring new candidate Faye after court blocks jailed leader Sonko’s bid

By Babacar Dione - Associated Press

Senegal police stands in front of the Supreme Court in Dakar, Senegal, Friday, Nov. 17, 2023, as the court is due to rule on whether opposition leader and presidential hopeful Ousmane Sonko can take part in the upcoming February election despite being struck from the country's voter rolls after his conviction on charges of corrupting youth earlier this year. (AP Photo/Sylvain Cherkaoui)

Ruling by Senegal’s highest court blocks jailed opposition leader Sonko from running for president

By Babacar Dione - Associated Press

Senegalese opposition leader Ousmane Sonko addresses journalists following his release from police custody in Dakar, Senegal, on March 8, 2021. Sonko has been charged with conspiracy against the state and calls for insurrections among other offenses, said the public prosecutor on Saturday, July 29, 2023. (AP Photo/Sylvain Cherkaoui, File)

Senegal’s opposition leader Ousmane Sonko hospitalized a week into prison hunger strike

By Zane Irwin - Associated Press

Senegalese opposition leader Ousmane Sonko addresses journalists following his release from police custody in Dakar, Senegal, on March 8, 2021. Sonko has been charged with conspiracy against the state and calls for insurrections among other offenses, said the public prosecutor on Saturday, July 29, 2023. (AP Photo/Sylvain Cherkaoui, File)

Senegal dissolves opposition party, restricts internet ahead of next year’s presidential election

By Zane Irwin and Babacar Dione - Associated Press

A riot police officer shots tear gas at demonstrators during a protest at the Cheikh Anta Diop University campus in Dakar, Senegal, Thursday, June 1, 2023. Senegal opposition leader Ousmane Sonko was convicted Thursday of corrupting youth but acquitted on charges of raping a woman who worked at a massage parlor and making death threats against her. (AP Photo/Leo Correa)

Senegal opposition leader Sonko’s lawyer files a lawsuit in France and calls for an ICC inquiry

By Zane Irwin - Associated Press

Seynabou Diop looks on as she holds her prayer beads after talking about her son, Khadim Ba, 21, who died during the protests earlier this month in Dakar, Senegal, Thursday, June 15, 2023. "If I had known (he was going to protest), Khadim would never have taken part," said Diop. "I want (the government) to meet the expectations of young people, the government has an obligation to help (them)," she said. (AP Photo/Leo Correa)

Protesters in Senegal accuse police of using armed civilians to quell unrest

By Sam Mednick - Associated Press

Demonstrators gather on a street during clashes with police at a neighborhood in Dakar, Senegal, Saturday, June 3, 2023. The clashes first broke out, later this week, after opposition leader Ousmane Sonko was convicted of corrupting youth and sentenced to two years in prison. (AP Photo/Leo Correa)

Senegal’s president calls for an investigation into deadly clashes, says he’s open to dialogue

By Babacar Dione and Sam Mednick - Associated Press

A demonstrator throws a rock at police during a protest at a neighborhood in Dakar, Senegal, Saturday, June 3, 2023. The clashes first broke out later this week after opposition leader Ousmane Sonko was convicted of corrupting youth and sentenced to two years in prison. (AP Photo/Leo Correa)

Senegal violence threatens country’s stability as experts call on government to instill calm

By Sam Mednick and Babacar Dione - Associated Press

Police in riot gear stand guard during clashes with demonstrators in Dakar, Senegal, Saturday, June 3, 2023. The clashes first broke out, later this week, after opposition leader Ousmane Sonko was convicted of corrupting youth and sentenced to two years in prison. (AP Photo/Leo Correa)

Senegal’s government suspends mobile internet access amid days of deadly clashes

By Sam Mednick - Associated Press

People stand at the entrance of a destroyed supermarket in Dakar, Senegal, Saturday, June 3, 2023. Senegal's government says at least nine people have been killed in violent clashes between police and supporters of opposition leader Ousmane Sonko, with authorities issuing a blanket ban on the use of several social media platforms in the aftermath of the violence. (AP Photo/Leo Correa)

At least 15 people killed in Senegal as opposition leader’s supporters clash with police

By Babacar Dione and Sam Mednick - Associated Press

A riot police officer shots tear gas at demonstrators during a protest at the Cheikh Anta Diop University campus in Dakar, Senegal, Thursday, June 1, 2023. Senegal opposition leader Ousmane Sonko was convicted Thursday of corrupting youth but acquitted on charges of raping a woman who worked at a massage parlor and making death threats against her. (AP Photo/Leo Correa)

Clashes in Senegal kill at least 9; government bans social media platforms and closes university

By Babacar Dione and Sam Mednick - Associated Press

A riot police officer runs past a burning car during a protest at the Cheikh Anta Diop University campus in Dakar, Senegal, Thursday, June 1, 2023. Senegal opposition leader Ousmane Sonko was convicted Thursday of corrupting youth but acquitted on charges of raping a woman who worked at a massage parlor and making death threats against her.(AP Photo/Leo Correa)

Senegal opposition leader Sonko convicted of corrupting youth, acquitted of rape

By Babacar Dione and Sam Mednick - Associated Press

FILE - In this Wednesday, March 3, 2021 file photo, demonstrators take cover during clashes with riot police at a protest in support of main opposition leader and former presidential candidate Ousmane Sonko in Dakar, Senegal. Deadly protests have erupted over the past week in the West African nation of Senegal, long considered a bastion of democracy and a regional leader on diplomacy issues. (AP Photo/Leo Correa, File)

EXPLAINER: Why Senegal protesters are clashing with police

By KRISTA LARSON - Associated Press

Demonstrators shout slogans in front of riot policemen during a protest against the arrest of opposition leader and former presidential candidate Ousmane Sonko, Senegal, Monday, March 8, 2021. Senegalese authorities have freed opposition leader Ousmane Sonko while he awaits trial on charges of rape and making death threats. The case already has sparked deadly protests threatening to erode Senegal's reputation as one of West Africa’s most stable democracies. (AP Photo/Leo Correa)

Senegal opposition leader released as new clashes erupt

By BABACAR DIONE and KRISTA LARSON - Associated Press

A demonstrator holds up a Senegalese flag during protests against the arrest of opposition leader and former presidential candidate Ousmane Sonko in Dakar, Senegal, Friday, March 5, 2021. Days of violent protests in Senegal have killed at least one person, local reports say, as young people take to the streets nationwide in support of the main opposition leader who was detained Wednesday. (AP Photo/Leo Correa)

Protests backing opposition leader escalate in Senegal

By CARLEY PETESCH and BABACAR DIONE - Associated Press