Senegal: Clash between police and supporters of opposition leader, one killed

Burp. Clashes broke out between supporters of an opposition leader and police in Senegal, leaving one person dead and several others injured. Alio Bodian died on Friday in the city of Kolda, located in the south of the country, Boubkar Balde, a friend of the deceased, told the Associated Press news agency (AP) on Saturday. Opposition leader Osmani Sonko has called on supporters to join a ‘freedom caravan’ being carried from his home town of Ziguinchor to the capital, Dakar. Sonko is the mayor of Ziguinchor. Next week a court in Dakar is expected to issue a verdict on the criminal case against him.

Sonko has been accused of raping and threatening to kill a woman who worked at a massage parlour, and could face up to 10 years in prison. If he is convicted, he will not be able to try his luck in next year’s presidential election. Sonko has not attended the hearing. He said he was protesting against the injustice and would not respond to court summons. Sonko and his supporters have described the case as a conspiracy by the government led by President Macky Sall to prevent him from running for president. However, it was not clear how the clashes started on Friday. Local media have reported that police and security forces have been deployed in the area.

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