DAKAR, Senegal — Police in Senegal smashed the window of a automobile through which a high opposition chief was sitting and compelled him from the car Thursday, marking the newest unrest surrounding a probable challenger to the ruling celebration in elections subsequent yr.

Movies recorded by his driver and posted on social media by his supporters confirmed police bodily eradicating Ousmane Sonko from the again seat of his automobile after he appeared in a Dakar courtroom.

Authorities later escorted the 46-year-old politician to his residence, in accordance with Senegalese media. Sonko’s supporters noticed the incident as the newest try to chop brief his political profession, together with his probably presidential candidacy in 2024.

Sonko completed third in Senegal’s 2019 presidential election and has referred to as on President Macky Sall to say publicly that he will not search a 3rd time period.

The opposition chief was in courtroom as a part of a civil lawsuit towards him by Senegal’s tourism minister for defamation and public insults. The case stems from accusations that Sonko made towards the minister throughout a information convention late final yr. A decide on Thursday postponed the trial till subsequent month.

After leaving the courthouse, Sonko greeted his supporters from his automobile. Law enforcement officials quickly started firing tear fuel on the crowd, in accordance with AP journalists on the scene. The officers then stopped Sonko’s automobile and demanded that he get out.

“The convoy of the principle opposition chief is blocked by fight automobiles,” Sonko’s lawyer, Cire Cledor Ly, wrote in a textual content message to The Related Press on Thursday afternoon.

It was unclear why police broke the automobile’s home windows and the federal government didn’t instantly reply to requests for remark.

Together with the defamation trial, Sonko additionally faces rape expenses primarily based on accusations from a feminine worker stated she was assaulted at a therapeutic massage salon. If convicted, he faces as much as 10 years in jail and can be barred from working for president.

In 2021, days of lethal protests erupted after Sonko was arrested for disturbing public order whereas on his solution to the courthouse for a scheduled look within the rape case. No less than 13 folks died through the worst violence to rock Senegal in years.