There is currently an unrest ongoing in Senegal, following the arrest and sentence of opposition leader, Ousmane Sonko to two years in prison.
Red Cross Senegal says over 350 persons have been injured, 16 persons reported to have died, in the violent clashes that erupted on Thursday, from security personnel and supporters of Sonko.
Mr Sonko was convicted of ‘corrupting youngsters,’ but his supporters believe his conviction was politically motivated in order to keep him out of the presidential contest in 2024.
In the midst of political turmoil, the Senegalese government has blocked mobile internet access in order to prevent the spread of “subversive messages.”
Youths have refused to back down and in some areas, have over powered the military forces, leaving the area in great distress.
However, in a recent development, army forces have been deployed to portions of Dakar, Senegal’s capital, on Friday, as the city braced for more upheaval, making it one of the country’s bloodiest days in recent memory.
On Friday, the streets were quiet, but strewn with burned cars, rocks, and shattered glass, and lined with damaged homes and businesses. Students were bused out of the university in large bunches.