Following the conviction of opposition leader Ousmane Sanko, nine people were reportedly killed during protests on Thursday in Dakar, capital of Senegal.

A Voice of America report on Friday, quoted the country’s Interior Minister, Antoine Diome, saying on national television that; “We have noted with regret violence that has resulted in the destruction of public and private property and, sadly, nine deaths in Dakar and Ziguinchor.”

Peoples Gazette on Thursday reported a court judgment in Senegal that jailed Mr Sanko for two years on charges of “corrupting youth”. The court also banned him from participating in the country’s presidential elections in 2024.

Mr Sanko, 48, had been accused of raping a 20-year-old massage parlour worker in 2021 and making death threats against her.

The court ruled and acquitted him on the charges of rape but convicted him for “corrupting youth”.

The leader of the PASTEF-Patriots party has maintained the charges were politically motivated since the allegations were first made in 2021.

He has been an outspoken critic of President Macky Sally and is widely viewed as Mr Sally’s most competitive opponent in the upcoming election.

Mr Sanko’s attorneys told reporters outside the court Thursday that the conviction was designed to prevent him from running against President Sall in 2024.

Earlier this week the popular opposition leader called for mass protests in response to the case brought against him.