The UN said it was “deeply concerned” on Tuesday, June 13, by the evolution of the human rights situation in Senegal and by the use of firearms by the police in early June against protesters accused by Dakar of engaging in “terrorism”. “The use of firearms by security forces during protests sets a dark precedent for Senegal,” the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights said in a statement.
“We note that the authorities have opened investigations and we call on them to ensure that these are prompt, independent and thorough, and that they bring anyone found responsible for the use of unnecessary or disproportionate force to account account of his actions, regardless of his status and political affiliation,” emphasizes the Office of the High Commissioner.
Senegal was plagued, from June 1 to 3, with its worst troubles in years, after the sentencing of opponent Ousmane Sonko to two years in prison in a sex scandal. The announcement of the sentence sparked violence that officially killed 16 people, 23 according to Amnesty International. For its part, the High Commission mentions “at least” 16 people killed, 350 injured and more than 500 arrested during the three days of demonstrations.
“We are also concerned about the continued restrictions on freedom of expression and peaceful assembly following the protests,” the Office said. He points in particular to the case of Walfadjiri TV, a private channel that covered the protests live and which was suspended on June 1 “without clear legal justification and has still not been reinstated to this day”. The UN also recalls that restrictions on internet access, which had been justified by the government to end “the spread of hateful and subversive messages”, “must be based on unambiguous and publicly accessible law”. .
” Spreading terror “
The Senegalese Ministry of Foreign Affairs replied in a statement that the events of early June were “acts that have absolutely nothing to do with the exercise of the rights of expression and demonstration”. “We have instead witnessed extremely serious attacks against the State, the Republic and its institutions and the Senegalese nation through human violence, the ransacking of public and private property and cyberattacks against strategic government sites and public services. vital,” the statement said.
For Dakar, “the objective [of this violence] was, without a doubt, to sow terror and bring our country to a standstill”. “Faced with this terrorism, it is necessary to reaffirm the imperative need to protect our Republic”, according to this press release. On June 8, the government presented the diplomatic corps in Dakar with a booklet containing its version of events.
In a separate statement on Tuesday, the Ministry of Tourism wanted to inform “of the normal resumption of tourist activities” in the country. “Senegal remains a safe tourist destination,” adds the Ministry of Tourism. The local press had reported cancellations of stays and hasty departures of tourists.
President Macky Sall, elected in 2012 and re-elected in 2019, maintains the vagueness about his desire to run for a third term in 2024. As it stands, Ousmane Sonko, a popular figure among young people and disadvantaged backgrounds, can no longer run for president. He cries out for the plot to eliminate him politically.