Highlights: Three people died at the end of last week in demonstrations against the postponement of the presidential election. Among the victims, Landing Camara, known as Diedhiou. The high school student was buried this Thursday in Ziguinchor, in the south of the country. Light has not been shed on previous deadly violence, like that which shook Senegal in June 2023, after the conviction of opponent Ousmane Sonko. Families of victims say they are “discouraged” today.

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“What can we do?”: in Ziguinchor, the helplessness of the families of victims of the demonstrations

Three people died at the end of last week in demonstrations against the postponement of the presidential election. Among the victims, Landing Camara, known as Diedhiou. The high school student was buried this Thursday in Ziguinchor, in the south of the country. But light has not been shed on previous deadly violence, like that which shook Senegal in June 2023, after the conviction of opponent Ousmane Sonko, mayor of Ziguinchor. Families of victims say they are “discouraged” today.

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The parents of Sidya Diatta, who died in June 2023 during demonstrations in Ziguinchor after the conviction of Ousmane Sonko, did not file a complaint. In the Lyndiane district on 2/14/2024. © RFI / Charlotte Idrac

By: RFI Follow

With our special correspondent in Ziguinchor,

Charlotte Idrac

On his phone, Mr. Sano kept TikTok videos of his son Souleymane, shot and killed on June 2 during clashes

with the police

in the Lyndiane district. He was 25 years old. “

Around 7 p.m., we called him to say ‘your son has been injured’. He replied 'no, no, no, I know, he was killed'

,” says a relative. “

I’m still angry

,” storms the father next door.

But like the Sano family, that of Thierno Dahaba, known as “Kara”, did not wish to file a complaint. The young man was shot in the head in July 2023 the day after the arrest of Ousmane Sonko. “

We don’t have confidence

,” says his uncle Malick. “

We know that if we submit the file, there will be no investigation because the State has blocked the files for the events of March (2021) and June (2023). We are disgusted. As long as this power is there, there will be no justice

,” he adds.

Also read “I loved him so much”: in Senegal, with a bereaved family after the demonstrations

The families sent the files to Ousmane Sonko's party, which controls town hall. But Marie Sambou says she feels “

powerless

”. His son Sydia Diatta, killed in June, was an activist of the ex-Pastef. : “

If you don’t know how you are going to file a complaint? We demand justice! But I don’t know how to take these steps

.”

In the family home, Sydia Diatta's room remained as it was. On the wall, a portrait of the young man alongside the coach of the national football team Aliou Cissé and a photo of Ousmane Sonko.

The Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights this week called for “

thorough and independent investigations

” into the deaths which took place following the postponement of the presidential election.

Read alsoSenegal: clashes during demonstrations in Dakar and the provinces, a student dead in Saint-Louis

“What can we do?”: in Ziguinchor, the helplessness of the families of victims of the demonstrations

“What can we do?”: in Ziguinchor, the helplessness of the families of victims of the demonstrations

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