Ousmane Sonko will be heard today on the basis of the case of rape allegations by the young masseuse Adji Sarr. He intends to go « quietly » to answer the Dean of Judges and does not want to be accompanied. The leader of the Pastef party speaks of an « empty case ».

Ousmane Sonko will today respond « quietly » to the summons of the Dean of judges, Maham Oumar Diallo, for his hearing on the basis of the case that opposes him to the lady Adji Sarr.  The leader of the Pastef party does not want mobilization to accompany him to the Palace of Justice. He made a televised statement yesterday, to give assurances to his supporters.  « I solemnly ask everyone to stay quietly at home or go about their business quietly. I ask you not to come to my house, not to the Court, not to gather.  Because it is an ordinary procedure. It will not be played tomorrow (Editor’s note: today), » Ousmane Sonko begged his militants and supporters not to « fall into the trap of Macky Sall » who, he says, « is in a strategy of chaos ».

Speaking of the possibility of a detention warrant after his face-to-face meeting with the investigating judge, Ousmane Sonko remains confident.  « I will answer as simply as possible and I will quietly return home for the night. Because a lot of false information has been distilled, even making me think that I could be arrested by complying with this summons. It is deliberately designed to create psychosis or the mobilization of our militants and take advantage of it to stick all kinds of motives: disturbing public order, calling for insurrection, etc., « says the leader of the « Patriots ».

Moreover, the politician reiterated the thesis that this is an « empty, absurd plot hatched at the highest level of the state ». He claims to have proof of this. However, he would like the case to be dealt with definitively. The country needs to breathe and move on, he said. « They’re in their lab all the time plotting and seeing the versions. They will never be able to reach me with this case, nor imprison me nor prevent me from being a candidate in 2024. Never in life, » Sonko said. The leader of Pastef will declare that their priorities are the « scandals of the regime of Macky Sall ». He gives as an example the case of the 45 billion in arms purchases by the Ministry of the Environment. 

It should be recalled that Ousmane Sonko is accused of « rape and death threats » by Adji Sarr, a young masseuse. In March 2021, during Sonko’s summons for the aborted hearing by the former Dean of Judges, the late Samba Sall, there were 14 deaths during clashes between police and demonstrators.

By Aliou Diallo