Published on :
Our Africa guest is Adji Sarr, the employee of a massage parlor in Dakar who accused political opponent Ousmane Sonko of repeated rapes more than a year ago. He, still under judicial control, denounces a plot by the regime to remove him from the political scene. The young woman, she returns to our microphone on how she spent the past year, following her complaint and the arrest of the deputy, which had provoked violent riots across the country.
RFI: Adji Sarr, hello, where are you in the legal proceedings?
Adji Sarr : For the moment, I don’t know anything at all and I don’t have an answer… I’m waiting. Nobody tells me anything, it’s long. It’s like justice is scared of the guy.
Why did you file a complaint late following several rapes?
Who am I to file a complaint once morest Ousmane Sonko? That’s what I thought before filing a complaint. At first, I thought no one was going to believe me. It was when I was fed up and tired that I decided to file a complaint.
You have been insulted and threatened in the press and social networks. How did you experience this period?
I didn’t sleep, I didn’t eat… I was always afraid; even when going to the shower, I wore my clothes for fear of being attacked
Afraid of what ?
I was afraid of violence, everyone insulted me and even my own family was afraid to identify with me. My family was afraid to call me on the phone or come to see me for fear of being killed followingwards. It was just me and my fear. I was afraid to come out and be recognized…which continues to this day.
And today exactly what do you live on?
I live with my big and my little sister and with an aunt. And there is an association that helps us; well, to protect them, I don’t give their names… I have to move all the time. My aunt who is a restaurateur also supports me… but otherwise no one else helps me and I have to move all the time.
Under what conditions do you live?
I’m always between the living room and my bedroom. I can’t go out on the balcony or raise my voice so as not to arouse suspicion and so people don’t bother me. I do nothing except pray.
What are the consequences of what you have experienced?
I take meds to sleep all the time, sometimes I take meds but I don’t sleep. I take drugs to sleep. All the time, I’m afraid that people will attack me in my sleep
Do you have any help?
No nothing at all. I would like someone to help me to stop it because until now I can’t sleep. In this country, only power works. If you don’t have money and if you don’t have power, you are not considered. Justice is double-edged…
How do you imagine your future in Senegal?
I do not even think regarding it. I’m thinking of leaving and coming back in force to settle a lot of things. In Senegal, women fight women. What I went through, I don’t want any woman to go through it anymore.
Ousmane Sonko was elected head of the town hall of Ziguinchor, what do you think?
I haven’t slept, I cried all night because it’s amazing. Someone who was accused of rape and who becomes mayor… whereas before being accused of rape, he was nothing at all, only a backbencher. He is accused of rape and he took the opportunity to make a political file! What scares me the most is that he has more and more power.
What do you expect from the Senegalese state?
I don’t want anything but a trial. Anyone who wants to support me must help me to have a trial so that I can get my life back. I need it too much!
