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Clashes between police and supporters of Senegalese opposition chief Ousmane Sonko left 9 individuals useless, the federal government mentioned Friday, with authorities issuing a blanket ban on the usage of a number of social media platforms within the aftermath of the violence.
The deaths occurred primarily within the capital, Dakar, and town of Ziguinchor within the south, the place Sonko is mayor, Inside Minister Antoine Felix Abdoulaye Diome mentioned in a press release.
Some social media websites utilized by demonstrators to incite violence, equivalent to Fb, WhatsApp and Twitter have been suspended, he mentioned.
SENEGALESE OPPOSITION LEADER OUSMANE SONKO CONVICTED OF CORRUPTING YOUTH, ACQUITTED OF RAPE CHARGES
“The state of Senegal has taken each measure to ensure the security of individuals and property. We’re going to reinforce safety all over the place within the nation,” Diome mentioned. On Friday, the federal government deployed the navy to components of town as clashes continued between police and Sonko supporters.
Sonko was convicted Thursday of corrupting youth however acquitted on costs of raping a lady who labored at a therapeutic massage parlor and making dying threats towards her. Sonko, who did not attend his trial in Dakar, was sentenced to 2 years in jail. His lawyer mentioned a warrant hadn’t been issued but for his arrest.
Sonko got here in third in Senegal’s 2019 presidential election and is in style with the nation’s youth. His supporters keep his authorized troubles are a part of a authorities effort to derail his candidacy within the 2024 presidential election.
Sonko is taken into account President Macky Sall’s most important competitors and has urged Sall to state publicly that he will not search a 3rd time period in workplace.
Because the verdict was introduced, clashes have erupted all through the nation, with protesters throwing rocks, burning automobiles and in some locations erecting barricades whereas police fired tear gasoline. Associated Press reporters noticed plumes of black smoke and tear gasoline being fired all through town.
A minimum of 9 individuals have died in riots over Senegalese opposition chief Ousmane Sonko’s in absentia conviction and sentencing. (AP Photograph/Leo Correa)
The clashes pressured the closure of the principle college in Dakar. On Friday, AP reporters watched college students streaming out carrying baggage on their heads, strolling previous the shells of burnt-out automobiles within the college compound.
“I blame the scholars for the vandalism. As for the state of affairs within the nation, I blame the federal government,” mentioned Saliou Bewe, a 25-year-old grasp’s pupil.
Bewe mentioned it was the second time the college had closed due to protests associated to Sonko. In 2021, a minimum of 14 individuals had been killed throughout clashes when authorities arrested Sonko for disturbing public order on the best way to his court docket listening to. This time, the coed mentioned, it was a lot worse.
“Buses have been broken, the administration, too. The lecture rooms have been broken. There was lots of vandalism and that’s deplorable,” he mentioned. He doubts he’ll have the ability to sit his exams scheduled to happen in 10 days’ time.
Safety forces patrolled the streets Friday and stood guard exterior some supermarkets and retailers, anticipating extra unrest. Tight safety remained round Sonko’s home with police stopping anybody from getting near the premises. Sonko has not been heard from because the verdict. Nevertheless, his PASTEF-Patriots celebration has known as for individuals to take to the streets in protest.
Rights teams have condemned the federal government crackdown, which has included arbitrary arrests and restrictions on social media.
“These restrictions on the best to freedom of expression and knowledge represent arbitrary measures opposite to worldwide legislation, and can’t be justified by safety causes,” Amnesty Worldwide mentioned in a press release.
France’s ministry for Europe and overseas affairs mentioned it was “extraordinarily involved by the violence” and known as for a decision to this disaster, in line with Senegal’s lengthy democratic custom.
Corrupting younger individuals, which incorporates utilizing one’s place of energy to have intercourse with individuals beneath the age of 21, is a felony offense in Senegal, punishable by as much as 5 years in jail and a fantastic of as much as $6,000.
SENEGALESE POLICE OFFICER DEAD AFTER CLASH WITH PROTESTORS GATHERED OVER OPPOSITION LEADER’S ARREST
Underneath Senegalese legislation, Sonko’s conviction would bar him from working in subsequent 12 months’s election, mentioned Bamba Cisse, one other protection lawyer.
“The conviction for corruption of youth hinders his eligibility, as a result of he was sentenced in absentia, so we are able to’t enchantment,” Cisse mentioned.
Nevertheless, the federal government mentioned that Sonko may ask for a retrial as soon as he was imprisoned. It was unclear when he can be taken into custody.
“The decision cements the criticism that Sall’s authorities is weaponizing the judiciary to get rid of outstanding rivals that might shake his rule,” mentioned Mucahid Durmaz, senior analyst at world danger intelligence firm Verisk Maplecroft.
Senegal was introduced as a beacon of democracy however was nonetheless grappling with structural points, he mentioned. “The court docket choice and the prospect of Sall’s bid for a 3rd time period within the election subsequent 12 months will gas fierce criticism round erosion of judicial independence and democratic backsliding.”
Authorities spokesman Abdou Karim Fofana mentioned that the injury brought on by months of demonstrations had value the nation tens of millions of {dollars}.
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“These calls (to protest), it’s a bit just like the anti-republican nature of all these actions that cover behind social networks and don’t imagine within the foundations of democracy, that are elections, freedom of expression, but additionally the sources that our (authorized) system presents,” Fofana mentioned.
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