Senegal: tense situation and popular indignation after three days of riots
A Senegalese gendarmerie vehicle passes in front of a charred automobile on March 5, 2021 in Dakar.
AFP - SEYLLOU
Text by: RFI Follow
4 min
Senegal has just experienced three days of demonstrations and riots in Dakar and in several cities killing four following the arrest of political opponent Ousmane Sonko for "disturbing public order" and "participating in a non-protest. authorized ”.
At the same time, he is also accused of rape and death threats.
If he continues to denounce a plot intended to remove him from the political game, the Minister of the Interior Antoine Félix Diome nevertheless declared, on the evening of March 5, that it was a "legal dispute which involves two Senegalese citizens ”.
Publicity
Read more
Despite a calm that seems to have returned to most districts of Dakar this morning, the lawyer for the young woman who accuses Ousmane Sonko of rape assures that her house was set on fire during the night.
On social networks, the Senegalese continue to be indignant at the situation, and react to the declaration of the Minister of the Interior, Antoine Félix Diome who spoke yesterday, Friday March 5 in the evening.
He declared "to
regret and condemn acts of a terrorist nature
", citing the looting, looting and degradation of public and private buildings.
He recalled that all those responsible for criminal acts will be brought to justice.
Call for a presidential intervention
Words sometimes criticized for not sufficiently appealing for calm.
Some Senegalese then ask President Macky Sall to intervene to ease tensions, others even ask for his resignation or the release of Ousmane Sonko.
Monday before the prosecutor
While waiting to know if the demonstrations will continue today, the political opponent is in police custody until Sunday March 7 for offenses of "disturbing public order" and "participating in an unauthorized demonstration. ".
At the earliest, he could go before the prosecutor on Monday, March 8, according to his lawyers.
Date on which he is already summoned before the examining magistrate to answer the charges of rape and threat of death.
►
To read also:
New day of tensions in Senegal, four dead since the start of the demonstrations
I no longer recognize my city ...
Senegal: a look back at the events
RFI
Newsletter
Receive all international news directly in your mailbox
I subscribe
Follow all the international news by downloading the RFI application
google-play-badge_FR
Senegal
On the same subject
New clashes in Senegal after the arrest of Ousmane Sonko, a protester who died in Casamance
Africa press review
In the spotlight: Senegal is set ablaze
Senegal: Sonko notified of charges of rape and death threats, very tense situation in the country