Young supporters of opposition leader, Ousmane Sonko, are getting killed and beaten in Senegal.
Demonstrations broke out in Senegal after a court sentenced opposition leader Ousmane Sonko to two years in prison.
He was convicted of “corrupting the youth” but cleared of rape. The charges relate to an incident at a massage parlour in 2021.
Popular social media platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, Messenger, Telegram, TikTok, WhatsApp and YouTube were blocked by the government.
The BBC also reports that at least nine people were killed when Sonko’s supporters clashed with police in several cities on Thursday.
Sonko was not in court when he was given a two-year jail term for immoral behaviour, but cleared of rape charges.
The Justice Minister said he could be arrested at any time – and police are surrounding his house in the capital.
His supporters fear the conviction could prevent the 48-year-old politician from contesting next year’s presidential election.
Hundreds of officers are blocking his supporters from reaching his home in Dakar – and even his lawyers have been unable to visit him.
Supporters say the violence across the country reflects widespread anger, particularly among young people, who feel ignored by the political elite.
They say the case against Sonko was politically motivated and was part of a plot to stop him from running for president next year.
Macky Sall’s government denies this and says Senegal is facing an insurrection. They can be accessed using a virtual private network but not everyone is aware of such software and how it works.
Several districts of the capital saw clashes – some of the worst confrontations were at the university campus in the city centre where police fired tear gas as vehicles burned and black smoke billowed over the area.
Many businesses closed – and some remained shut on Friday.
There was also violence in the southern city of Ziguinchor, where Sonko is mayor.
Sonko is very popular among unemployed youth and has undergone a meteoric political rise in the last few years.
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