Senegal: Relative Peace Settles On Streets Of Dakar After Three Days Of Violence

On Monday, June 5, 2023, calm returned to the streets of Senegal's capital, Dakar, following 72 hours of violence amid a 2 years court sentence given to opposition leader, Ousmane Sonko. 

Clashes erupted on Thursday after opposition leader Ousmane Sonko was sentenced to two years in prison.

Authorities announced on Saturday that 500 people had been arrested since Thursday.

"The security forces were confronted with violent demonstrators who were not seeking to express their opinions but were instead engaged in subversive activities." 

The majority of those apprehended during these events are armed and dangerous individuals. 

"The majority of those arrested had Molotov cocktails, knives, and large-calibre firearms," said Ibrahima Diop, Senegal's director of public security.  

Sonko supporters and President Macky Sall supporters have traded blame for the violence and deaths. 

At least 16 people were killed and over 350 were injured as a result of the violence.

Sonko was not present at his trial and has yet to be taken into custody for his prison sentence, which is expected to exacerbate tensions.