The Facts
Senegal opposition leader and presidential prospect Ousmane Sonko on Thursday was sentenced to two years in prison after a court found him guilty of corrupting youth, a criminal offense that includes using one's position of power to have intercourse with someone under 21.
This comes as a then 20-year-old massage therapist accused the politician of sexually assaulting and threatening her in 2021 at a beauty salon, whose owner was also sentenced to two years in jail for the same offense. Sonko was cleared of rape charges.
The Spin
Narrative A
Ousmane Sonko is the victim of a politically-motivated conspiracy planned by the Sall government, which has the clear intent to eliminate him from the 2024 presidential elections. Senegal's justice system isn't independent and is once again working to bar those that would work against the establishment in a healthy manner.
Narrative B
Whether the Sall government is unfairly persecuting an opposition leader or Sonko is an agitator trying to evade justice, it's outrageous that this sexual violence case has been politicized by both sides of the political spectrum. The Senegalese nation should be discussing how to better safeguard the rights of women and sexual victims.
