Sonko's fierce attacks on President Macky Sall have helped him to create an army of followers among Senegal's disaffected young
Sonko's fierce attacks on President Macky Sall have helped him to create an army of followers among Senegal's disaffected young AFP

Senegalese opposition figure Ousmane Sonko on Monday was charged with fomenting insurrection, three days after being arrested at his home, one of his lawyers told AFP.

Sonko, a fierce critic of President Macky Sall, "was charged and placed in custody" after appearing before a judge, lawyer Ousseynou Ngom told AFP.

The public prosecutor on Saturday anounced seven new charges to be made against Sonko over comments he has made, rallies he has held, and other episodes since 2021, including an incident at his home on Friday that led to his arrest.

They include undermining state security, criminal association with a terrorist body and theft.

An eighth charge of disseminating false news was added, one of Sonko's lawyers told local media on Monday.

The prosecutor said Saturday that this new legal affair had "nothing to do" with a high-profile moral corruption case for which Sonko was on June 1 sentenced in absentia to two years in prison.

That sentence, which makes him ineligible to context next year's presidential election, sparked clashes that left at least 16 dead.

His lawyers have argued that his arrest on Friday cancelled out his conviction in the moral corruption case, because he had been tried in absentia.