Calm has been restored to the streets of Dakar, the capital of Senegal, after 72 hours of unrest. The violence erupted following the court’s decision to sentence opposition leader Ousmane Sonko to a two-year jail term.
Since Thursday, authorities have reported the arrest of 500 individuals. Ibrahima Diop, the director of public security in Senegal, stated, “The security forces encountered violent protesters who were not interested in expressing their opinions but were actively involved in subversive activities. Most of the arrested individuals were armed and dangerous. A significant number of them were found in possession of Molotov cocktails, knives, and firearms of large calibre.”
Both supporters of Sonko and President Macky Sall have exchanged accusations regarding the violence and the resulting casualties. Tragically, the clashes led to at least 16 deaths and over 350 injured individuals.
Sonko, who was absent during his trial, has not yet been taken into custody to serve his jail term. This situation is expected to escalate tensions further, adding to the already volatile atmosphere in the country.
