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Articles for Sonko, search results for prison

Swiss court finds Gambian ex-minister guilty of crimes against humanity
7 months, 1 week ago

Swiss court finds Gambian ex-minister guilty of crimes against humanity

Al Jazeera  

Switzerland’s top criminal court has sentenced Ousman Sonko, a former interior minister of The Gambia, to 20 years in prison for crimes against humanity. In its verdict on Wednesday, the Federal Criminal Court in Bellinzona, southern Switzerland, said Sonko was guilty of intentional homicide, torture and false imprisonment during former President Yahya Jammeh’s 22-year rule over the country. Rights groups …

Humanity Minister Switzerland Swiss Gambia Crimes Gambian
Bassirou Diomaye Faye | From prison to presidency
8 months, 2 weeks ago

Bassirou Diomaye Faye | From prison to presidency

The Hindu  

Democracy is not really one of the ethos of West Africa’s troubled Sahel region, but Senegal’s 2024 presidential election offers a glimmer of hope in a land marred by conflict and unrest. Initially selected as a proxy for Mr. Sonko, Mr. Faye’s popularity among the Senegalese was visible in his short but lively campaign before the elections. Mr. Faye’s election …

President West African Senegal Senegalese Faye Sonko Diomaye
Senegal swears in new president days after his release from prison
8 months, 3 weeks ago

Senegal swears in new president days after his release from prison

The Independent  

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Election Email Verifyerrors Senegal Faye Sonko Bassirou Diomaye Faye
Senegal swears in Africa’s youngest elected leader as president in a dramatic prison-to-palace rise
8 months, 3 weeks ago

Senegal swears in Africa’s youngest elected leader as president in a dramatic prison-to-palace rise

Associated Press  

DAKAR, Senegal — Senegal inaugurated Africa’s youngest elected leader as president on Tuesday, as the 44-year-old and previously little-known Bassirou Diomaye Faye completed a dramatic ascent from prison to palace within weeks. Last month’s election tested Senegal’s reputation as a stable democracy in West Africa, a region rocked in recent years by coups and attempted coups. “Through my election, the …

Election President Senegal Senegalese Faye Sonko
Photos: Senegal’s youngest president, Bassirou Diomaye Faye, sworn in
8 months, 3 weeks ago

Photos: Senegal’s youngest president, Bassirou Diomaye Faye, sworn in

Al Jazeera  

Senegal has inaugurated Bassirou Diomaye Faye as its president, completing the previously little-known opposition figure’s dramatic ascent from prison to the palace in just weeks. “Before God and the Senegalese nation, I swear to faithfully fulfil the office of president of the Republic of Senegal,” Faye said in Diamniadio, near the capital, Dakar. “This is a day of celebration for …

President Senegal Dakar Faye Diomaye
Senegal’s little-known opposition leader Bassirou Diomaye Faye is named the next president
8 months, 4 weeks ago

Senegal’s little-known opposition leader Bassirou Diomaye Faye is named the next president

Associated Press  

DAKAR, Senegal — Senegal’s little-known, 44-year-old opposition leader Bassirou Diomaye Faye was named the country’s next president on Monday, less than two weeks after being released from prison to run in the election. Faye, who was backed by popular opposition leader Ousmane Sonko, has vowed to improve Senegal’s control over its natural resources by promoting national companies to prevent the …

France Vote President His Campaign Senegal Dakar Faye
Senegal awaits the outcome of peaceful presidential election, following months of unrest
9 months ago

Senegal awaits the outcome of peaceful presidential election, following months of unrest

New Indian Express  

DAKAR: Senegalese anxiously awaited the results of a presidential election Monday, following months of uncertainty and unrest that tested the country's reputation as a stable democracy in a region rife with coups. Analysts say a second round is likely, between opposition candidate Bassirou Diomaye Faye and former Prime Minister Amadou Ba, the candidate for the governing party. In the capital, …

Senegal Dakar Faye
Senegal to hold much-awaited Presidential elections on Sunday after repeated delays
9 months ago

Senegal to hold much-awaited Presidential elections on Sunday after repeated delays

Firstpost  

Sunday’s election is set to be Senegal’s fourth democratic transfer of power since its independence. As many as 19 candidates will be competing in the Presidential race, the highest number in Senegal’s history Senegal will go to polls to elect a new President this Sunday. File photo Senegal will head to polls this Sunday to vote in a tightly contested …

Election Race Vote President Presidential Senegal Senegalese
After 12 years in power, Senegal’s Macky Sall leaves a fragile democracy
9 months ago

After 12 years in power, Senegal’s Macky Sall leaves a fragile democracy

Al Jazeera  

Amid the president’s attempt to delay the elections and protests by the opposition, how resilient is Senegal’s democracy? Dakar, Senegal – A year after his 2012 inauguration as Senegal’s fourth president, Macky Sall delivered a compelling speech – half in French, half in English – at Harvard University in the United States. Other controversies surrounding Sall’s presidency – including financial …

Europe Democracy Development Political Election Power Young People
Top Senegal opposition leader vows to help win March 24 election, speaking out after prison release
9 months, 1 week ago

Top Senegal opposition leader vows to help win March 24 election, speaking out after prison release

Associated Press  

DAKAR, Senegal — Top opposition leader Ousmane Sonko vowed Friday to help his team win Senegal’s March 24 presidential election even though he is barred from the ballot, jumping into the campaign in his first public address since being freed from prison a day earlier. Ousmane Sonko’s release late Thursday after months behind bars triggered a mix of jubilation and …

Election Senegalese Dakar Sonko Win Senegal
Senegal’s top opposition leaders released from prison as elections loom
9 months, 1 week ago

Senegal’s top opposition leaders released from prison as elections loom

Al Jazeera  

Freedom for Ousmane Sonko and Bassirou Diomaye Faye could dramatically alter the election race. Senegal’s top opposition leader, Ousmane Sonko, has been released from prison, triggering jubilant celebrations outside the prison as well as across Dakar, the capital. State broadcaster RTS reported Sonko was freed along with key ally Bassirou Diomaye Faye late on Thursday. Their release comes after a …

Election Led Faye Opposition Leaders Sonko Ousmane Sonko
Senegal’s top opposition leader freed from prison ahead of presidential election this month
9 months, 1 week ago

Senegal’s top opposition leader freed from prison ahead of presidential election this month

Associated Press  

DAKAR, Senegal — Senegal’s top opposition leader, Ousmane Sonko, has been released from prison ahead of the presidential election later this month, triggering jubilant celebrations across the country’s capital. Sonko, who finished third in the 2019 presidential election, is popular among young people and his fiery campaign to tackle corruption has resonated in a country with economic hardship. Sall himself …

Prison Election Presidential Election Month Senegal Sonko Sall
Senegal elections: Why has President Macky Sall postponed voting?
10 months, 2 weeks ago

Senegal elections: Why has President Macky Sall postponed voting?

Al Jazeera  

Last week, Senegal’s President Macky Sall unilaterally postponed presidential elections by several months just weeks before the planned date of February 25, sparking protests across a country already on edge from months of political tension. In his statement on Saturday, Sall said he would work to address issues that had arisen when a handful of prominent candidates were disqualified by …

Elections Opposition Council President Run Five Years Senegal
Senegalese opposition leader Sonko sent back to prison after weeks in hospital during hunger strike
1 year, 1 month ago

Senegalese opposition leader Sonko sent back to prison after weeks in hospital during hunger strike

Associated Press  

DAKAR, Senegal — Senegalese opposition leader Ousmane Sonko has returned to prison after weeks of undergoing medical treatment in the hospital during a hunger strike to protest his detention on charges he says are politically motivated. The announcement comes just days before Senegal’s Supreme Court is due to rule on whether Sonko can take part in the upcoming February election …

Election Senegalese Sonko
Senegal’s opposition leader Ousmane Sonko hospitalized a week into prison hunger strike
1 year, 4 months ago

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

Associated Press  

DAKAR, Senegal — Senegal’s jailed opposition leader Ousmane Sonko, who has been on a hunger strike in prison to protest criminal charges against him, was hospitalized Sunday, his party said. “Prior to his imprisonment, he was in good health and had no known illnesses,” said the statement from Sonko’s now-dissolved Patriots of Senegal party. The latest charges against Sonko came …

Prison Charges Senegal Dakar Sonko Bindard Branco
Senegal’s opposition leader charged with conspiracy against the state and calls for insurrection
1 year, 4 months ago

Senegal’s opposition leader charged with conspiracy against the state and calls for insurrection

Associated Press  

DAKAR, Senegal — Senegal’s opposition leader Ousmane Sonko has been charged with conspiracy against the state and calls for insurrections among other offenses, the public prosecutor said Saturday. The announcement comes weeks after Sonko was convicted on separate charges of corrupting youth and sentenced to two years in prison, which ignited deadly protests across the nation. Prosecutor Abdou Karim Diop …

Senegal Dakar Sonko
The sexual assault case behind Senegal’s unrest
1 year, 6 months ago

The sexual assault case behind Senegal’s unrest

Al Jazeera  

Senegal, a beacon of stability and democracy in West Africa, has been rocked by deadly protests. Clashes erupted in Senegal after opposition figure Ousmane Sonko was sentenced to two years in prison on June 1. He was accused of raping a woman who worked in a massage parlor; the court cleared Sonko of rape but found him guilty of a …

This Episode Senegal Sonko
Death toll mounts as unrest flares in Senegal
1 year, 6 months ago

Death toll mounts as unrest flares in Senegal

Al Jazeera  

The death toll in the Senegal violence has risen to 15 as supporters of convicted opposition leader Ousmane Sonko and police continued to clash, the government said on Saturday. Sonko came third in Senegal’s 2019 presidential election and is popular with the country’s youth. Sonko is considered President Macky Sall’s main competition and has urged Sall to state publicly that …

Senegal Sonko Unrest Flares
Death toll from Senegal protests rises to 15 as opposition supporters clash with police
1 year, 6 months ago

Death toll from Senegal protests rises to 15 as opposition supporters clash with police

Associated Press  

DAKAR, Senegal — The number of people killed in days of clashes between Senegalese police and supporters of opposition leader Ousmane Sonko has now risen to 15, including two security officers, the government said on Saturday. France’s ministry for Europe and foreign affairs said it was “extremely concerned by the violence” and called for a resolution to this crisis, in …

Violence Senegal Senegalese Dakar Sonko
Nine dead as protests rock Senegal after Sonko jail sentence
1 year, 6 months ago

Nine dead as protests rock Senegal after Sonko jail sentence

Al Jazeera  

Interior Minister Antoine Diome said nine protesters died in the capital Dakar and the southern town of Ziguinchor. At least nine people were killed in Senegal in clashes between riot police and supporters of opposition leader Ousmane Sonko following a court sentencing him to two years in jail, the country’s interior ministry said. “We have noted, with regret, violence that …

Interior Senegal Dakar Sonko Sall Ziguinchor
Ousmane Sonko sentenced: Why are tensions flaring in Senegal?
1 year, 6 months ago

Ousmane Sonko sentenced: Why are tensions flaring in Senegal?

Al Jazeera  

Supporters of opposition figure denounce charges and two-year sentence as a ploy to prevent him from running in presidential elections next year. Sonko’s supporters threw rocks at riot police and set fire to buses on Thursday after a court sentenced him in absentia for “corrupting youth”. After Thursday’s verdict, clashes broke out between police and protesters, buses were set alight …

Social Media Senegal Dakar Netblocks Sonko Ousmane Sonko
Police fire tear gas and protesters burn vehicles near home of Senegal’s main opposition leader
1 year, 6 months ago

Police fire tear gas and protesters burn vehicles near home of Senegal’s main opposition leader

Associated Press  

DAKAR, Senegal — Police fired tear gas and demonstrators burned cars Monday near the home of Senegal’s main opposition leader, as tensions rise in the capital days before a court verdict is expected on charges against the politician. The clashes came a day after police stopped Sonko’s “freedom caravan,” traveling from his hometown of Ziguinchor, in the south and where …

Senegal Sonko Leader Dakar Protesters Burn
Clashes between Senegal’s police and supporters of opposition leader leave one dead, others hurt
1 year, 6 months ago

Clashes between Senegal’s police and supporters of opposition leader leave one dead, others hurt

Associated Press  

DAKAR, Senegal — Clashes between police and supporters of the opposition leader in Senegal left one person dead and several injured, friends of the victim told The Associated Press on Saturday. Opposition leader Ousmane Sonko had called on his supporters to follow him in a “freedom caravan” from his hometown of Ziguinchor, in the south and where he is the …

Senegal Opposition Leader Sonko
Trial for Senegal’s main opposition leader ends, verdict expected next week
1 year, 7 months ago

Trial for Senegal’s main opposition leader ends, verdict expected next week

Associated Press  

DAKAR, Senegal — A highly-anticipated trial of Senegal’s main opposition leader ended Tuesday evening with a verdict expected next week, a court said Wednesday. The 20-hour hearing included testimonies from Sonko’s accuser, a woman working at a massage parlor, and a dozen witnesses. Last week one police officer was killed and several protestors were injured during clashes between security forces …

Sonko