Senegal is still under high tension after Ousmane Sonko was sentenced to two years for ” corruption of youth “. Since Thursday, the streets of Dakar and Ziguinchor have been the scene of clashes between demonstrators and the police. These violent clashes have already caused the death of ten people, while the soldiers have been deployed in several sectors of the capital.
In the face of the protests that followed the conviction of Ousmane Sonko, army and military vehicles were positioned on Friday June 2 in several sectors of Dakar. But only to secure sites deemed strategic, according to Maham Ka, spokesperson for the Ministry of the Interior at RTS, the national radio and television station. “ All precautions from defense and security organizations were takenand it is well organized, he estimated. These are category 1, 2 and 3 forces. The police, the gendarmerie and the army, and each in the event of disturbances, has its role to play. We have police officers who are positioned in certain sectors who play a role, gendarmes who play another role and soldiers who are positioned just for the moment in so-called strategic places. »
The spokesman for the Ministry of the Interior concedes “ that there are troubles, it’s true » and insists on one point: the military does not ensure the maintenance of order. All of this, “ it is the job of the police and the gendarmerie”. “There are demonstrations, but it is being managed properly by the police and gendarmerie forces. Now, whenever there are concerns, there are strategic installations that are vital – one can think of telecommunications installations or things like that, energy, etc. -, where we must place military forces that are currently only positioned. And they don’t do any policing work. It’s just a normal positioning in case of troubles », said Maham Ka.
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“ The use of force exceeded all limits »
The Minister of the Interior, Antoine Félix Diome, announced the restriction of access to social networks and certain messaging services “ through which calls for violence and hatred are made “, did he declare. A decision condemned by Amnesty International.
The NGO is also very concerned about the disproportionate use of force by the police. ” Firearms should only be used to protect his own life and the lives of others. We have not seen this kind of situation in the various elements that have circulated in social networks and on television. Yes, the protests were violent, but the use of force exceeded all limits “, Estimates the executive director of the Senegalese branch of Amnesty, Seydi Gassama, joined by RFI.
“ You still have the Minister of the Interior issuing press releases to implicate the demonstrators. But so far all the autopsies that have been performed, and we are awaiting the autopsies of the people who died yesterday (this Thursday, June 1.-Editor’s note), have denied the statements of the Minister of the Interior, confirming that these people were killed by live ammunition. This is obviously a very worrying situation which could continue if the authorities do not show restraint. “, he continues.
Seydi Gassama notes “ the determination of the supporters of Ousmane Sonko and even of the Senegalese “. ” Those who demonstrate go beyond the Pastef party (African Patriots of Senegal for work, ethics and fraternity) », he said. “ These are young Senegalese who consider that the verdict that has been handed down is a verdict that between in Macky Sall’s plans, to eliminate an important candidate in the presidential election as he did in the past with Karim Wade or Khalifa Sall, always using Senegalese justice. »
►Also read: Senegal: persistent tensions after the conviction of opponent Ousmane Sonko