Demonstrations in Senegal: the difficult mourning of the families of victims

Audio 01:23

Supporters of Ousmane Sonko, in Dakar, March 5, 2021. REUTERS - ZOHRA BENSEMRA

Text by: RFI Follow

4 min

The Head of State had declared a day of national mourning Thursday in tribute to the victims of the demonstrations: 10 dead according to a government source, 11 according to the Movement for the Defense of Democracy (M2D).

The movement calls for a day of prayer this Friday.

Meeting with the relatives of a young high school student killed during these demonstrations.

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He was still a high school student.

He died on Friday March 5 in Colobane in the midst of a riot, in circumstances which remain murky.

Ismaela is one of his childhood friends, like a little brother, he says: “

 He died like a martyr.

Imagine… A young 18 year old boy who has his whole future in front of him, who was so calm, so respectful… When he was not at school, if it is not football, it is job.

A young man who has lived all his years without a dad

!

He was everything for his mom

!

You lose it all ... Suddenly!

Because of what

?

Imagine… It's so hard

!

 "

“ 

We shouldn't kill children

!

 "

The funeral was held at Yoff Cemetery on Wednesday.

Khadiatou, one of her friends protested: “

 Unfortunately, for us, we lost him in regrettable conditions.

Today, we cannot express everything, because we are raging

!

It hurts me

!

The children, there, threw stones, fought for democracy, the power of the people… We should not kill children

!

We do not have the right !

But we can't do anything, that's the problem

!

But we ask for justice all the same.

We are asking for justice… 

This day of prayer comforts me a little

, confides Khadiatou…

even if he will never come back

.

"

► To read also: Report - Senegal: UCAD, university at the forefront of the protest always on the alert

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  • Senegal