His arrest a week ago following an accusation of rape ignited clashes between protesters and police in which, according to Amnesty International, at least eight people have died.

Suncor was indicted on Monday on the charge that he says is politically motivated.

The government denies this, but political pressure has been rising for President Macky Sall, whose tenure has been plagued by accusations that he unjustly torpedoes his political rivals.

Some are suspicious of the accusations against Sanko because two other prominent rivals of Saul were previously targeted by criminal charges that prevented them from running for president in 2019 kindled by Sankoh's arrest.

The protests have since grown into the worst political unrest in years for one of West Africa's most stable democracies.

As Senegal's youth vents frustrations over unemployment, inequality and corruption.