Protests in West African nation of Senegal, bastion of democracy
Deadly protests have erupted in the West African nation of Senegal, long considered a bastion of democracy and a regional leader on diplomacy issues. Anti-government protesters have set supermarkets ablaze and lobbed rocks at riot police in a rare display of violence on the streets of the capital, Dakar.
Sonko’s supporters say Senegalese President Macky Sall is trying to derail the opposition leader’s political future. If Ousmane Sonko is convicted, he faces up to 10 years in jail and would be barred from taking part in the 2024 election. Critics note it’s not the first time a perceived opponent of the president has faced criminal charges ahead of national elections.
Sonko’s supporters initially took to the streets to protest his arrest. After having granted conditional release pending trial, organizers have officially canceled further protests for now. However, some vowed to press ahead until all the people arrested in connection with the unrest are released. For his part, Sonko is calling for an investigation into allegations of police brutality during the deadly violence. Amnesty International says at least eight people were killed during the unrest.
Sonko, a populist who has railed against corruption and poverty, finished third in the 2019 presidential election with just over 15% of the ballots cast, drawing strong support from younger voters. His message of greater economic independence for Senegal has attracted an even wider audience amid the financial hardships of the COVID-19 pandemic amid curfews and other movement restrictions.
Demonstrators throw rocks at riot policemen during protests against the arrest of opposition leader and former presidential candidate Ousmane Sonko in Dakar, Senegal, Friday, March 5, 2021. Days of violent protests in Senegal have killed at least one person, local reports say, as young people take to the streets nationwide in support of the main opposition leader who was detained Wednesday. (AP Photo/Leo Correa)
Riot policemen fires tear gas at demonstrators during protests against the arrest of opposition leader and former presidential candidate Ousmane Sonko in Dakar, Senegal, Friday, March 5, 2021. Days of violent protests in Senegal have killed at least one person, local reports say, as young people take to the streets nationwide in support of the main opposition leader who was detained Wednesday. (AP Photo/Leo Correa)
Demonstrators run after rio police fired a stone grenade during protests against the arrest of opposition leader and former presidential candidate Ousmane Sonko, Senegal, Monday, March 8, 2021. Senegalese authorities have freed opposition leader Ousmane Sonko while he awaits trial on charges of rape and making death threats. The case already has sparked deadly protests threatening to erode Senegal's reputation as one of West Africa’s most stable democracies. That's because Sonko's supporters are accusing President Macky Sall of pursuing the criminal charges to derail the opposition figure's prospects in the upcoming 2024 election. (AP Photo/Leo Correa)
Demonstrators throw rocks at riot policemen during protests at the Cheikh Anta Diop University campus in Dakar, Senegal, against the arrest of opposition leader and former presidential candidate Ousmane Sonko, Thursday, March 4, 2021. (AP Photo/Leo Correa)
A burning car blocks a street during clashes between supporters of the politician Ousmane Sonko and the police in Dakar, Senegal, Monday, Feb. 8, 2021. Deadly protests have erupted in the West African nation of Senegal, long considered a bastion of democracy and a regional leader on diplomacy issues. (AP Photo/Leo Correa)
A supporter of the politician Ousmane Sonko holds a rock during clashes with the police in Dakar, Senegal, Monday, Feb. 8, 2021. Deadly protests have erupted in the West African nation of Senegal, long considered a bastion of democracy and a regional leader on diplomacy issues. (AP Photo/Leo Correa)
A demonstrator holds up a Senegalese flag during protests against the arrest of opposition leader and former presidential candidate Ousmane Sonko in Dakar, Senegal, Friday, March 5, 2021. Days of violent protests in Senegal have killed at least one person, local reports say, as youths take to the streets nationwide in support of the main opposition leader who was detained Wednesday. (AP Photo/Leo Correa)
A demonstrator holds rocks during protests in support of main opposition leader and former presidential candidate Ousmane Sonko in Dakar, Senegal, Wednesday, March 3, 2021. Sonko was arrested Wednesday on charges of disturbing the public order after hundreds of his supporters clashed with police while he was heading to the court to face rape charges. (AP Photo/Leo Correa)
Demonstrators clash with riot policemen during protests against the arrest of opposition leader and former presidential candidate Ousmane Sonko in Dakar, Senegal, Friday, March 5, 2021. Days of violent protests in Senegal have killed at least one person, local reports say, as young people take to the streets nationwide in support of the main opposition leader who was detained Wednesday. (AP Photo/Leo Correa)
Riot police officers respond to rock throwing protesters at the Cheikh Anta Diop University campus in Dakar, Senegal, Thursday, March 4, 2021. Protests erupted for the second consecutive day following the arrest of opposition leader and former presidential candidate Ousmane Sonko. (AP Photo/Leo Correa)
Demonstrators throw rocks at riot policemen during protests at the Cheikh Anta Diop University campus in Dakar, Senegal, against the arrest of opposition leader and former presidential candidate Ousmane Sonko, Thursday, March 4, 2021. (AP Photo/Leo Correa)
Demonstrators shout slogans during a protest against the arrest of opposition leader and former presidential candidate Ousmane Sonko near the Justice Palace of Dakar, Senegal, Monday, March 8, 2021. A Senegalese court cleared the way Monday for opposition leader Sonko's release pending his rape trial in a case that already has sparked deadly protests and threatened to erode the country's reputation as one of West Africa's most stable democracies. (AP Photo/Leo Correa)
Riot policemen stand in formation during a protest against the arrest of opposition leader and former presidential candidate Ousmane Sonko, Senegal, Monday, March 8, 2021. Senegalese authorities have freed opposition leader Ousmane Sonko while he awaits trial on charges of rape and making death threats. The case already has sparked deadly protests threatening to erode Senegal's reputation as one of West Africa’s most stable democracies. That's because Sonko's supporters are accusing President Macky Sall of pursuing the criminal charges to derail the opposition figure's prospects in the upcoming 2024 election. (AP Photo/Leo Correa)
Demonstrators shout slogans during a protest against the arrest of opposition leader and former presidential candidate Ousmane Sonko in front of the Justice Palace of Dakar, Senegal, Monday, March 8, 2021. A Senegalese court cleared the way Monday for opposition leader Sonko's release pending his rape trial in a case that already has sparked deadly protests and threatened to erode the country's reputation as one of West Africa's most stable democracies. (AP Photo/Leo Correa)
A demonstrator holds a Senegalese flag as he kneels in front of a burning car during protests against the arrest of opposition leader and former presidential candidate Ousmane Sonko, Senegal, Monday, March 8, 2021. Senegalese authorities have freed opposition leader Ousmane Sonko while he awaits trial on charges of rape and making death threats. The case already has sparked deadly protests threatening to erode Senegal's reputation as one of West Africa’s most stable democracies. That's because Sonko's supporters are accusing President Macky Sall of pursuing the criminal charges to derail the opposition figure's prospects in the upcoming 2024 election. (AP Photo/Leo Correa)
Demonstrators throw rocks at riot policemen during protests against the arrest of opposition leader and former presidential candidate Ousmane Sonko in Dakar, Senegal, Friday, March 5, 2021. Days of violent protests in Senegal have killed at least one person, local reports say, as young people take to the streets nationwide in support of the main opposition leader who was detained Wednesday. (AP Photo/Leo Correa)
Demonstrators shout slogans in front of riot policemen during a protest against the arrest of opposition leader and former presidential candidate Ousmane Sonko, Senegal, Monday, March 8, 2021. Senegalese authorities have freed opposition leader Ousmane Sonko while he awaits trial on charges of rape and making death threats. The case already has sparked deadly protests threatening to erode Senegal's reputation as one of West Africa’s most stable democracies. (AP Photo/Leo Correa)
