Senegal's supreme court to decide on Sonko's defamation case

In West Africa, a Senegalese court on Monday handed opposition figure Ousmane Sonko a six-month suspended sentence in an appeal of a defamation case that could threaten his run for president next year.

Sonko aged of 48, became third in the 2019 presidential election and intends to stand again in 2024, but two court cases could damage his candidacy. He received a two-month suspended sentence for defaming Tourism Minister.

According to lawyer for the minister, the sentence would rule Sonko out of the 2024 presidential vote if confirmed following a six-day period for appeals. The court also ordered him to pay around $330,000 in damages to Tourism Minister.