Senegal's Opposition Leader Sonko Sentenced to Prison for Rape Conviction

Feminist activists in Senegal fear a setback in the fight for women's rights as the country awaits the verdict in the rape trial of opposition leader Ousmane Sonko. The case has been marked by politicisation and victim-shaming, with some activists saying it has failed to advance the rights of victims of sexual violence. Despite the country criminalising rape in 2019, survivors still face obstacles, including cumbersome procedures and a culture of silence. Sonko denies the allegations and has called on the public to protest en masse.