Senegalese opposition leader Ousmane Sonko has declared that he will no longer cooperate with judicial authorities if they cannot guarantee his safety.

Sonko made the announcement ahead of his appeal in a defamation case, stating that he believes the authorities are engaging in “judicial banditry.”

He appeared to refer to a past incident in March when he claimed there was an assassination attempt on his life by police during his transfer to court.

ALSO READ: Senegal’s opposition leader, Ousmane Sonko, to face rape trial in May

In a press conference, Sonko criticized the judges, saying that they are attacking him and his family for no reason.

The opposition leader, who came third in the 2019 presidential elections, has accused President Macky Sall of orchestrating a plot to prevent him from running in the 2024 elections.

Sonko’s comments suggest an escalation in tensions between the opposition and government in Senegal, where there have been growing concerns over democratic backsliding.