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Death toll in Senegal protests rises to 15 as opposition supporters clash with police : NPR


A protester throws a stone at police during a protest in a neighborhood in Dakar, Senegal, on Saturday. Clashes broke out for the first time after opposition leader Ousmane Sonko was found guilty of corrupting teenagers and sentenced to two years in prison.

Leo Correa/AP


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Leo Correa/AP


A protester throws a stone at police during a protest in a neighborhood in Dakar, Senegal, on Saturday. Clashes broke out for the first time after opposition leader Ousmane Sonko was found guilty of corrupting teenagers and sentenced to two years in prison.

Leo Correa/AP

DAKAR, Senegal – The death toll in days of clashes between Senegalese police and supporters of opposition leader Ousmane Sonko has now risen to 15, including two security officers, the government said on Sunday. Saturday.

While Dakar was calmer on Saturday, clashes continued into the evening. In residential areas, protesters threw stones at police, blocked roads and burned tires. Troops patrolled the streets while police fired tear gas at protesters, checking and arresting those deemed troublemakers.

Residents peered over the roofs of buildings, both covering their hiding places and watching the clash.

Clashes first erupted on Thursday, after Sonko was found guilty of corrupting a teenager but acquitted of raping a massage parlor woman and threatening to kill her. Sonko, who did not attend the trial in Dakar, was sentenced to two years in prison. His lawyer said a warrant for his arrest has yet to be issued.

Sonko came third in the 2019 Senegalese presidential election and is popular with the country’s youth. His supporters argue that his legal troubles are part of the government’s attempt to thwart his candidacy in the 2024 presidential election.

Sonko is seen as President Macky Sall’s main competitor and has urged Sall to publicly announce that he will not run for a third term.

The international community has called on the Senegalese government to resolve the tension. France’s foreign and European ministry said it was “deeply concerned by the violence” and called for a solution to the crisis, in line with Senegal’s longstanding democratic traditions.

Human rights groups have condemned the government’s crackdown, including arbitrary arrests and restrictions on social media. Several social media sites used by protesters to incite violence such as Facebook, WhatsApp and Twitter have been suspended for nearly two days.

The US State Department released a statement condemning the violence.

“Senegale’s strong record of democratic governance, the rule of law and peaceful coexistence is something the people of Senegal can be rightly proud of. We call on all parties to express their views openly. peacefully,” said department spokesman Matthew Miller.

Senegalese are blaming the government for the violence and loss of life.

One woman, Seynabou Diop, told the AP news agency on Saturday that her 21-year-old son, Khadim, was killed during the protests, from a bullet shot in the chest.

“I feel so much pain. What is happening is difficult. Our children are dying. I never thought I would have to go through this,” she said.

She said it was the first time her son, a kind and disciplined mechanic, joined a protest, rushing out of the house as soon as he heard the news of Sonko’s conviction.

“I think Macky Sall is responsible. If he talked to Senegalese, especially young people, maybe we wouldn’t have all these problems,” Diop said. The Associated Press could not confirm the cause of death. The family said an autopsy was underway.

Damaging youth, including using one’s position of power to have sex with someone under the age of 21, is a criminal offense in Senegal, punishable by up to five years in prison and a fine of up to $6,000.

Bamba Cisse, another defense lawyer, said that under Senegalese law, Sonko’s sentence would prevent him from participating in next year’s election. However, the government said that Sonko could request a retrial once he is taken into custody. It is unclear when he will be taken into custody.

Analysts say if the violence continues, it could threaten the country’s institutions.

Alioune Tine, founder of the Afrikajom Center, a think-tank in West Africa, said: “Never in their worst nightmare (will) Senegalese think of witnessing the figures. common sense of doomsday violence and absurdity”.

“The most shared feelings about the current situation are fear, stress, exhaustion and helplessness. So what everyone is looking for right now is peace,” he said.

The West African country is seen as a bastion of democratic stability in the region.

Sonko has not been heard or seen since the verdict. In a statement on Friday, his PASTEF-Patriots party called on Senegalese to “amplify and intensify constitutional resistance” until President Sall leaves office.

Government spokesman Abdou Karim Fofana said the damage caused by the months-long protests had cost the country millions of dollars. He argued that the protesters posed a threat to democracy.

“These calls for (protests) are a bit like the anti-republican nature of all the movements that hide behind social media and don’t believe in the foundations of democracy, which are elections, freedom of speech, as well as free speech. resources that our (legitimate) system provides,” Fofana said.

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