New protests called in Senegal after days of clashes

A Senegalese opposition collective on Saturday called for new demonstrations from Monday, after days of clashes that left at least four dead.

At a press conference in Dakar, the capital, the Movement for the Defense of Democracy – which includes the main opposition party Pastef – urged the Senegalese people to “take to the streets en masse”.

The call comes after days of clashes between opposition supporters and police in the West African state, which began after the arrest on Wednesday of Pastef leader Ousmane Sonko.

Police arrested Sonko, 46, after scuffles with his supporters erupted as he was on his way to court to face a rape charge – which he said is politically motivated.

The arrest sparked violent clashes that continued until Friday – in the worst unrest Senegal has seen in years – with protesters torching cars and shops in the capital Dakar.

Although tensions appear to have eased on Saturday, the Movement for the Defense of Democracy – which includes civil society groups as well as Pastef – called for three days of new protests from Monday.

He also demanded that the government release “political prisoners”, respect the right to protest and reinstate the licenses of the two television stations which were temporarily suspended for broadcasting footage of the unrest.

On Saturday, the Economic Community of 15 West African States, which includes Senegal, urged all parts of the country to exercise restraint and remain calm.

In a statement, he also called on the government “to take the necessary measures to ease tensions and guarantee the freedom to demonstrate peacefully”.

Sonko, who is popular with young Senegalese and seen as a challenger to President Macky Sall, is due to appear before a judge in Dakar on Monday to answer questions about the rape charge.

Rape charge

The Pastef leader ran against Sall in the 2019 election, but finished third in a race that gave the incumbent a second term.

Sonko’s political future was called into question in February, however, after an employee of a beauty salon where he received massages filed a rape complaint.

Often critical of the Senegalese ruling elite, Sonko accused Sall of conspiring to keep him out of politics.

The 59-year-old president, in turn, dismissed the claim that he orchestrated Sonko’s legal troubles.

But for opposition supporters, Sonko’s arrest is part of a lawsuit against Sall’s opponents.

Karim Wade, the son of former Senegalese President Abdoulaye Wade, was barred from running in the 2019 elections after being convicted of corruption.

Former Dakar mayor Khalifa Sall – another Sall rival – was also barred from running in 2019 after being jailed in 2017 for corruption.

The rape allegation against Sonko also comes as uncertainty grows over whether Sall will seek a third term in 2024.

Senegalese presidents are limited to two consecutive terms, but Sall launched a constitutional review in 2016, raising suspicions that he intends to run again.

Other West African presidents – like Alpha Condé of Guinea or Alassane Ouattara of Côte d’Ivoire – have used constitutional changes to win third terms.

Senegal, a former French colony of 16 million inhabitants, is often presented as a beacon of stability in an otherwise unstable region of the world.