Opposition chief’s now-dissolved get together says he was admitted for emergency care to a hospital in downtown Dakar.
A Senegalese opposition chief who has been on a starvation strike in protest towards his detention has been admitted to hospital, in response to his supporters.
Ousmane Sonko was hospitalised on Sunday on the Essential Hospital in Senegal’s capital, Dakar, in response to an announcement from his now-dissolved get together, the Patriots of Senegal (PASTEF).
Sonko, 49, was arrested on July 28, and has been charged with plotting an revolt, undermining state safety and felony affiliation with a terrorist physique.
He started his starvation strike two days later.
PASTEF mentioned Sonko had been admitted for emergency care and held the authorities “accountable” for his situation.
“Previous to his imprisonment, he was in good well being and had no identified sicknesses,” it mentioned.
Cire Cledor Ly, one among Sonko’s attorneys, confirmed the hospitalisation to the AFP information company however didn’t focus on his situation.
There was no quick remark from the Senegalese authorities.
Sonko, who positioned third within the West African nation’s presidential election in 2019, is widespread with the nation’s youth.
His arrest and the dissolution of his get together ignited lethal protests in Dakar final week. Not less than two individuals died in the course of the unrest, whereas a number of others have been wounded, in response to AFP.
The strikes additionally got here weeks after a decide convicted Sonko, in a separate case, of corrupting youth and sentenced him to 2 years in jail. That conviction sparked clashes that left 16 lifeless in response to the federal government, 24 in response to Amnesty Worldwide and 30 in response to PASTEF.
Sonko’s supporters preserve the fees towards him are a part of a authorities effort to derail his candidacy within the 2024 presidential election.
Individually, Sonko’s lawyer, Juan Branco, has been arrested in Mauritania, extradited to Senegal and is now in a Dakar jail, in response to officers.
Branco’s lawyer, Robin Bindard, mentioned on Sunday that his consumer is being held for alleged dissemination of false info, conspiracy towards the state and different costs.
“The mission of a lawyer is sacred and you’ll’t reproach a lawyer for defending his consumer,” he mentioned.
