Senegal: Appeal trial for defamation against opposition member Ousmane Sonko postponed to May 8

A court in Senegal’s capital Dakar announced Monday the appeal trial for defamation against opposition member Ousmane Sonko has been postponed to May 8.

Sonko was initially expected to appear in court on April 17. The leader of Pasteef party was handed last month a two-month suspended prison sentence for defaming Tourism Minister Mame Mbaye Niang.

He was also fined some $300,000, but was cleared from the offences of insult and forgery.

The politician who has unveiled plans to run for next presidential elections had claimed Mame Mbaye Niang had been criticized by state inspectors for his management of a rural unemployment scheme.

The Minister filed a lawsuit against him for defamation. The defense team of state official requested a tougher sentence for Sonko.

The prosecutor had requested against Sonko two years in prison, including an effective one-year prison term.

The politician, touted as the main rival of incumbent leader Macky Sall for the elections, has made no comment about the court decision.

“For reasons related to our communication strategy, we have decided not to pronounce on this referral”, his defense said.