On Tuesday, the UN denounced the use of force to put a stop to protests in Senegal and demanded an impartial investigation and sanctions against those responsible during the pro-Ousmane Sonko protests.
“The use of firearms by security forces during protests sets a negative precedent for Senegal,” UN rights office spokesman Seif Magango told reporters in Geneva.
Although he mentioned that Senegal has begun an inquiry into the incidents, he also stated that the UN rights office demanded a “prompt, independent, and thorough” investigation and punishment for individuals in charge, “regardless of their status and political affiliation.”
“We offer our office’s assistance in this respect,” Magango stated.
Around 23 people died, according to Amnesty International figures “including some by gunfire,” while the government says 16 people perished in the unrest.
The U.N. rights office said “at least” 16 people were killed in last week’s violence, while 350 were injured and more than 500 arrested during the three days of protests.
“We are also concerned about continuing restrictions on freedom of expression and peaceful assembly in the wake of the protests,” Magango said.
He called attention to the predicament of private broadcaster Walfadjiri TV, which had been live-broadcasting the protests before “being suspended on June 1 without clear legal justification and remaining off air to date.”
In addition, the U.N. rights office noted that internet access had been curtailed between June 1 and 6, ostensibly to prevent the “dissemination of hateful and subversive messages.”
“Internet restrictions must be grounded in unambiguous, publicly available law; must be necessary to achieve a legitimate aim,” Magango said.
The June 1-3 violence was sparked by a two-year sentence on opposition figurehead Ousmane Sonko for “corrupting” a young woman, making him ineligible to contest presidential polls next year.
He was initially charged with rape but was convicted on a lesser charge of morally “corrupting” a young woman in a case that lasted two years.
President Macky Sall is charged by Sonko with attempting to impose a “dictatorship” at the top of a corrupt elite.
Sonko, a 48-year-old former tax inspector, has spoken out against corruption, underfunding of the health and education systems, debt, poverty, and food insecurity.