Senegal: the power deploys armed forces in Dakar, which fears an arrest of Sonko

June 2, 2023

The Senegalese authorities on Friday deployed men in uniforms and combat weapons in Dakar where, after the unleashing of violence on Thursday, many fear a conflagration if the authorities arrest the opponent Ousmane Sonko, presidential candidate sentenced to two years in prison. jail.

Men wearing fatigues and assault rifles were positioned at various points in Dakar, the usually teeming capital whose streets are now largely deserted and activity almost paralyzed after one of the deadliest days of political protest in years, noted AFP journalists.

AFP could not identify whether they were soldiers or gendarmes in camouflage uniforms. Neither the government spokesperson nor that of the general staff confirmed that the authorities would have called in the army.

Interior Minister Antoine Diome assured overnight that “the State of Senegal (had) taken all measures” to restore order.

The government has admitted having restricted access to social networks such as Facebook, WhatsApp or Twitter to stop, according to him, “the dissemination of hateful and subversive messages”.

In fear of the looting, shops remained closed along entire streets still bearing the traces of the violence of the previous day.

At the university, the scene of protracted clashes and extensive destruction, students were told to leave and many of them left the campus dragging a suitcase to catch a bus or other means of transport.

“Senegal has never experienced such a situation,” assured Babacar Ndiaye, a 26-year-old student, “we did not expect this. Political affairs should not concern us”.

“But there is injustice,” he said, speaking of the conviction of Ousmane Sonko, the fiercest opponent of President Macky Sall, engaged for two years in a fierce showdown with power for his judicial survival. and politics.

Prior to Thursday’s events, around 20 civilians had been killed since 2021 in unrest largely linked to Mr. Sonko’s situation. The authorities and Mr. Sonko’s camp blame each other for this.

Dakar, its suburbs and several towns experienced Thursday clashes between young people and security forces and the looting of shops and public facilities. The Minister of the Interior reported nine deaths.

Scattered clashes were reported Friday morning. New calls to demonstrate circulated for the afternoon.

The press conference where national football team coach Aliou Cissé was to announce the players selected for the next two matches on Friday has been replaced by a press release. The circulation of the train linking Dakar and the new town of Diamniado has been suspended.

Dakar residents interviewed by AFP said they feared the possibility that the government would arrest Mr. Sonko, presumed to be blocked by the security forces at his home in the capital, “kidnapped” according to him.

“If they arrest him, we will have to fear the worst,” said Yankouba Sané, a university employee.

“If there is one person who will never go to prison in Senegal, it is Ousmane Sonko. If they refer him, they will make the situation worse,” said Alioune Diop, a 46-year-old trader.

The relatively young age of Mr. Sonko, his sovereignist and pan-Africanist discourse, his diatribes against “the state mafia”, multinationals and the economic and political influence exercised according to him by the former French colonial power have earned him strong support. in a youth in search of prospects and hope in a difficult economic and social environment. Those under 20 make up half of the population.

Mr. Sonko was sentenced Thursday to two years in prison for pushing a young woman under the age of 21 to “debauchery”.

The court, on the other hand, acquitted him of the charges of rape and death threats against this employee of a beauty salon where he was going to have a massage between 2020 and 2021, charges for which he was tried.

The decision appears, in view of the electoral code, to result in the ineligibility of Mr. Sonko. He has continued to deny the accusations by shouting at the machination of power to remove him from the presidential election, which the power refutes.

Mr. Sonko can now be arrested “at any time”, said Justice Minister Ismaïla Madior Fall.

Support or not for Mr. Sonko, many express their weariness with this two-year soap opera which has often dictated the pace of the country’s progress.

“Since the beginning of this story, we have lost a lot, the country’s economy has taken a big hit (…) The loss is inestimable when we have costs”, lamented Bada Diop, trader.