On July 28, 2023, Ousmane Sonko, a prominent opposition politician in Senegal, was arrested for purportedly stealing a gendarme’s phone and posting a message deemed “subversive” on social media.
Sonko, known for his outspoken criticism of President Macky Sall, has faced numerous legal challenges that he believes are orchestrated to hinder his political involvement.
The Alleged Phone Theft and Social Media Message
Sonko’s lawyers confirmed that he was already being interrogated and that he was in police custody.
He portrayed President Sall as a potential dictator, while Sall’s supporters labeled Sonko as a rabble-rouser causing instability.