Senegal : President Macky Calls For Calm

Senegal’s President, Macky Sall has called for an end to street protests that erupted following the detention of opposition leader Ousmane Sonko. In an address to the nation on Monday, 8, 2021 President Sall offered condolences to the families of those who lost their lives during the protests, which he said caused unprecedented material and human losses, noting that multiple public buildings were attacked and many businesses were looted.
While stressing that no excuse could justify the ongoing violence, the President called on the population to be calm and express their feelings in a non-violent manner. He said after consulting the different segments of the society including religious groups, NGOs and employee unions, it was agreed that the case regarding the head of the opposition political party, Patriots of Senegal for Work, Ethics and Fraternity (PASTEF), Ousaman Sonko should be left to the judiciary. He further commended the Defense and Security forces saying, “In the face of such incredible violence, where children and women were put, in an organized manner, on the front line in the scenes of breakage, our Defense and Security Forces demonstrated professionalism and restraint without which the death toll would have been heavier.”
Mr Ousaman Sonko whose lawmaker status was stripped is accused of rape and making death threats. On March 3, while on his way to a cou...