Al Mayadeen English

  • Ar
  • Es
  • x
Al Mayadeen English

Slogan

  • News
    • Politics
    • Economy
    • Sports
    • Arts&Culture
    • Health
    • Miscellaneous
    • Technology
    • Environment
  • Articles
    • Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Blog
    • Features
  • Videos
    • NewsFeed
    • Video Features
    • Explainers
    • TV
    • Digital Series
  • Infographs
  • In Pictures
  • • LIVE
News
  • Politics
  • Economy
  • Sports
  • Arts&Culture
  • Health
  • Miscellaneous
  • Technology
  • Environment
Articles
  • Opinion
  • Analysis
  • Blog
  • Features
Videos
  • NewsFeed
  • Video Features
  • Explainers
  • TV
  • Digital Series
Infographs
In Pictures
  • Africa
  • Asia
  • Asia-Pacific
  • Europe
  • Latin America
  • MENA
  • Palestine
  • US & Canada
BREAKING
Israeli media outlet: Security incident reported in the Gaza Strip
Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson: No new date or venue has been set for the meeting between Araghchi and Witkoff, and no negotiations will take place until the outcome is guaranteed
Palestinian platforms: Settlers storm Al-Aqsa Mosque complex under the protection of the occupation police
Palestinian platforms: The IOF detonated a booby-trapped robot east of the al-Zaytoun neighborhood, south of Gaza City
Syrian Defense: We call on all parties in Sweida to cooperate with security forces and exercise restraint
Al Mayadeen's correspondent: The Lebanese Army is continuing its investigations and will later announce any information that does not affect the confidentiality of the investigation
Al Mayadeen's correspondent: It has not yet been determined whether the detainees belong to ISIS or another organization
Al Mayadeen's correspondent: Around 10 people of different nationalities, including Lebanese nationals, were detained
Al Mayadeen's correspondent: The Lebanese army arrested a number of people in the Matn area of Mount Lebanon with possession it has not disclosed
Gaza Civil Defense spokesman: We have strong indications that there are martyrs, injuries, and trapped people in the Salah al-Din area

Hundreds arrested in Senegal as political situation escalates

  • By Al Mayadeen English
  • Source: Agencies
  • 5 Jun 2023 17:33
3 Min Read

Following the violence that broke out in Dakar on Thursday, the death toll rose to 15 on Friday amid more protests.

  • x
  • Burned cars are seen at the entrance of the Cheikh Anta Diop University after authorities ordered the institution to be closed until further notice in Dakar, Senegal, Friday, June 2, 2023. (AP)
    Burned cars seen at the entrance of the Cheikh Anta Diop University after authorities ordered the institution to be closed until further notice in Dakar, Senegal, Friday, June 2, 2023 (AP)

Since fatal protests against the conviction of an opposition leader began, hundreds of people have been detained throughout Senegal, an official said on Sunday.

On Thursday, violence broke out in Dakar and a few other places when opposition leader Ousmane Sonko was given a two-year prison term for "corrupting youth".

The death toll rose to 15 on Friday as a result of further protests.

Read more: 9 killed in Senegal violence after opposition leader Sonko sentenced

"About 500 arrests have been made since the beginning of the protests. Some of those arrested belong to political parties, but the majority are without party affiliation," Interior Minister Antoine Diome told reporters in Dakar.

On Saturday and Sunday, he claimed, there was a "decrease in intensity" of the demonstrations.

According to Diome, the protests are being stoked by outside forces, and "it is the country that is under attack."

The Minister mentioned that crucial infrastructural facilities were damaged by the demonstrators, including a water production plant.

Social media sites were shut down by the government under the pretext of preserving law and order in the West African nation.

Read: Senegalese presidential candidate calls for protests over court ruling

Related News

Senegal launches voting for presidential elections after delay

Senegal sets March 24 as final date for presidential elections

In an effort to stop the "dissemination of hateful and subversive messages," the government has banned mobile phone data, according to the Communication Ministry's statement on Sunday.

Amnesty International criticized the Senegalese government for limiting social media sites.

According to local media, there were still noticeable heavy security force deployments across the city, with army personnel patrolling virtually deserted streets.

In 2021, Sonko was accused of raping Adji Sarr, a worker at a beauty parlor in Dakar, and threatening to kill her. She said Sonko had abused her on five occasions between late 2020 and early 2021. She was under 21 back then.

Sonko was sentenced to two years in prison for influencing young people on Thursday, but the court cleared him of the rape accusations instead, banning him from running for President.

He has not yet been detained and is reportedly in his Dakar residence.

In the 2019 election against President Macky Sall, Sonko came in third place; nevertheless, throughout the trial, he claimed that the case against him was politically motivated to bar him from running in 2024.

International, regional bodies call for calm in Senegal

In the same context, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres condemned the violence and "urged all those involved to... exercise restraint," a spokesperson said.

The African Union said its commission president, Moussa Faki Mahamat, strongly condemned the violence and urged leaders to avoid acts that "tarnish the face of Senegalese democracy, of which Africa has always been proud."

The Community of West African States (ECOWAS) called on all parties to "defend the country's laudable reputation as a bastion of peace and stability."

The European Union and Senegal's former colonial power France also expressed concern over the violence.

Amnesty International urged authorities to stop "arbitrary arrests" and lift restrictions on access to social networks. Similarly, the NGO Reporters Without Borders also called on authorities to fully restore internet access.

  • Macky Sall
  • ECOWAS
  • Dakar
  • Senegal
  • Ousmane Sonko

Most Read

Hezbollah SG reveals war details on Al Mayadeen for the first time

Hezbollah SG reveals war details on Al Mayadeen for the first time

  • Politics
  • 8 Jul 2025
Major ambush in Gaza kills 6 Israeli troops, injures dozens

Major ambush in Gaza kills 5 Israeli troops, injures 14

  • Politics
  • 8 Jul 2025
Israeli soldiers are seen in Beit Hanoun ahead of an operation by the al-Qassam Brigades, undated (Al-Qassam Brigades Military Media)

'Israel' on blast as media exposes report discrepancies in Gaza ambush

  • Palestine
  • 8 Jul 2025
Yemen Navy sinks ETERNITY C ship, shares footage of operation

Yemen Navy sinks ETERNITY C ship, shares footage of operation

  • Politics
  • 9 Jul 2025

Coverage

All
The Ummah's Martyrs

Read Next

All
The Freedom Flotilla ship Handala as it departs for Gaza, where it aims to break the maritime blockade at a port in Syracuse, Sicily in southern Italy on July 13, 2025. (AFP)
Palestine

Freedom Flotilla's Handala departs Sicily in bid to break Gaza siege

The container ship CMA CGM Laperouse, left, docks at the Georgia Ports Authority's Port of Savannah, Sept. 29, 2021, in Savannah, Ga (AP)
Politics

US shipbuilding woes deepen as tariffs, outdated policies backfire

Gaza war raises ethical questions for ex-Obama, Biden officials
Politics

Mercenary firm tied to Gaza war crimes hires Obama-Biden PR operatives

'Israel' targets children in Gaza collecting water
Palestine

'Israel' strikes Gaza kids fetching water, blames it on 'malfunction'

Al Mayadeen English

Al Mayadeen is an Arab Independent Media Satellite Channel.

All Rights Reserved

  • x
  • Privacy Policy
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Authors
Android
iOS