PRESIDENT Macky Sall of Senegal stated on Wednesday that he is willing to engage in dialogue aimed at calming tensions in the country following recent protests triggered by the sentencing of opposition leader Ousmane Sonko.
Last week, deadly protests erupted in the capital city of Dakar and several towns after Sonko was sentenced to a two-year prison term. Over a span of three days, clashes between protesters and security forces resulted in at least 16 deaths and more than 350 injuries.
The protests extended to Senegalese communities abroad, leading the government to close all consulates on Tuesday after some were ransacked in various countries. Particularly targeted were the Senegalese consulates in Milan, Bordeaux, Paris, and New York, according to the Foreign Ministry.
President Sall addressed the Cabinet meeting on Wednesday and, as stated in an official statement, ‘strongly condemned the violence and vandalism against public and private institutions while reaffirming his commitment to protecting the nation.’ These were his first public remarks regarding the recent events.
The statement further highlighted President Sall’s willingness to engage in dialogue and consultations with all sectors of the nation while respecting the rule of law and the common interest of living together in peace, stability, and solidarity.
President Sall expressed his condolences to the nation and the families of the victims, assuring them of the government’s support. He ordered immediate and thorough judicial investigations to uncover the responsible individuals behind the unrest.
Acknowledging the efforts of the defence and security forces in restoring order amidst the unprecedented violence, President Sall praised their actions. He assured the nation that measures have been taken to maintain stability and secure the safety of the people and their property.
Last Thursday, the court acquitted Sonko of rape charges but sentenced him to two years for corrupting the youth, disqualifying him from the upcoming presidential elections scheduled for next year. Sonko, the leader of the PASTEF-Patriots party, finished third in the 2019 elections against President Sall but has contested the verdict, claiming political motives to undermine his presidential aspirations.
While relative calm has returned this week, concerns of continued unrest persist, particularly after Sonko called for popular resistance.
On Wednesday, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken revealed that he discussed the political situation in Senegal with President Sall. ‘I expressed my condolences for those killed during recent unrest. I reiterated the United States’ support for the Senegalese people and democratic values,’ Secretary Blinken stated on Twitter, underscoring the international community’s attention to the situation in Senegal.