Opposition leader Ousmane Sonko is to appear in court and possibly be sentenced over defamation accusations from the tourism minister, Mame Mbaye Niang. Sonko called out the minister for alleged mismanagement of funds.

The Opposition claims the trial is politically motivated because if sentenced, Sonko will be barred from running in next year’s presidential election.

This hearing was initially scheduled for February but has been postponed three times with a March 16 court date sparking protests in Dakar.

Aljazeera.