Conviction of opposition leader Ousmane Sonko: dozens killed in protests and clashes

In the past months, Senegal saw a crackdown on protests and increased civic space violations in a context of heightened political tensions ahead of presidential elections, set to take place in February 2024. While incumbent President Macky Sall remained silent, until early July 2023, on whether he would run for a third term, beyond a constitutional two-term limit, the judicial prosecution and conviction of opposition leader and mayor of Zinguinchor Ousmane Sonko, has led to protests, violence and clashes, in which dozens of people were killed, including through the use of excessive force by security forces. Additionally, in this context, access to mobile internet and social media was interrupted during the June protests, a media outlet was suspended, and another journalist and activists arrested.

On 4th July 2023, following the deadly June protests, President Macky Sall announced he will not run for another term.

Peaceful Assembly

Conviction of opposition leader Ousmane Sonko: dozens of people killed in protests and violent clashes

On 1st June 2023, protests and violent clashes erupted in Dakar and in other localities in the country when a criminal court in Dakar convicted Ousmane Sonko, in absentia, to two years in prison for “corrupting the youth”. He was however acquitted on the charges of rape and issuing death threats against a former employee of a massage parlour. Supporters of Sonko believe the conviction is politically motivated, meant to prevent Sonko from running as a candidate in Senegal’s presidential elections in 2024.

Protesters in Dakar reportedly built barricades and threw stones, while security forces responded with tear gas. Public and private property was destroyed and looted, including Cheikh Anta Diop University. On 2nd June 2023, the army was deployed in parts of Dakar.

In a statement issued on 9th June 2023, Amnesty International said that at least 23 people, including three children, were killed in violent protests on 1st and 2nd June 2023 in Dakar and Zinguinchor. Additionally, at least 390 people were injured, according to numbers provided by the Red Cross. Authorities claim that 16 people were killed and about 500 arrested.

Amnesty International further documented several human rights violations: the use of excessive force, including live ammunition leading to the loss of life; suspension of access to mobile internet and social networks; the interruption of the signal of media outlet Walf TV; and the presence of armed men dressed in civilian clothes alongside security forces, who were seen, in videos circulating on social media, attacking protesters violently. The latter was first denied by Director of Public Security, Chief Inspector Ibrahima Diop, who instead accused “hidden forces” from abroad of infiltrating the protests. Later, on 14th June 2023, the Minister of Interior said during a press conference that an investigation would be opened into the armed men in civilian clothes that were seen, in video’s spread on social media, chasing protesters in pick-ups.

Calls, by Sonko’s PASTEF party and FRAPP (Front pour la Révolution Anti-Impérialiste Populaire et Panafricaine), to protest again on 17th and 18th June 2023 were met with a ban issued by the prefect of Dakar. Grounds given for the protest bans include: risk of disturbing public order; risk to sabotage of public and private property; and hindrance to the free movement of persons and goods.

As reported previously on the Monitor, several people had already lost their lives in protests and violence in March 2021, after Sonko was charged with sexual assault and death threats. According to Amnesty International, 14 people were killed in the March 2021 spontaneous protests.

Opposition protests against Sonko’s judicial prosecution

Prior to the protests on 1st, 2nd and 3rd June 2023, several protests, some resulting in clashes, took place in the context of the judicial prosecution of Ousmane Sonko:

• On 29th May 2023, clashes broke out between Sonko supporters and security forces in the vicinity of Sonko’s residence in Dakar’s Keur Gorgui neighbourhood. A day earlier, on 28th May 2023, gendarmes had taken Sonko, “manu miltari” from Ziguinchor to Dakar to attend his trial. Young Sonko supporters reportedly threw stones at security forces, erected barricades and burnt tyres while security forces used tear gas to disperse the protesters and blocked the main roads leading to Sonko’s residence. The latter declared later that day on social media that he was “abducted” by security forces and called people to mobilise.
• At least three people died on 16th May 2023 in a context of unrest, protests and clashes in Dakar and Ziguinchor ahead of Sonko’s trial, the start of which was postponed.
• On 16th March 2023, police used tear gas against stone throwing Sonko supporters who were accompanying Sonko’s motorcade to a court in Dakar, where his trial for libel, following a complaint by the Minister of Tourism, Mame Mbaye Niang, was to start. Sonko’s lawyer said later that day that the opposition leader had to seek medical attention following a substance he had inhaled, impairing is vision and breathing, causing Sonko’s trial to be postponed to 30th March 2023. Pro-Sonko protests had started on 14th March 2023, demanding the release of political prisoners and to demonstrate support. According to Amnesty International, over 130 protesters had been arrested between 14th and 16th March 2023, while three people had died.
• On 30th March 2023, dozens of people were reportedly arrested during protests in Dakar. Reports indicate that protesters were throwing stones and burning tyres while security forces fired tear gas. That day, a court found Sonko guilty of libel, and convicted him to a suspended two-month prison sentence.

Thousands protest a possible third term for President Macky Sall

On 12th May 2023, thousands protested in Dakar over President Macky Sall’s refusal to rule out running for a third term in the upcoming February 2024 presidential elections. The protest was organised by Plateforme des forces vives de la Nation - F24 (Platform of the Living Forces of the Nation - F24, the latter referring to February 2024, when the presidential elections are to take place), a platform consisting of more than 100 opposition parties, civil society and human rights groups and trade unions, and was authorised by local authorities. Besides calling for Sall not to run for a third term in 2024, protesters also demanded the release of more than 300 “political detainees”.

A third term for President Sall would have been unconstitutional as Senegal’s Constitution only allows for a maximum of two consecutive terms. Supporters of the presidential camp, however, claimed that the constitutional revision in 2016 had reset the clock, thereby allowing Sall another term.

One teenager killed in protest over use of plot of land in Ngor neighbourhood

A 15-year-old teenage girl was killed and dozens injured during a protest on the evening of 8th and 9th May 2023 in Dakar’s Ngor neighbourhood over the use of a 6,300 square metre plot of land. Authorities intend to use the plot of land to build barracks for the gendarmerie, contested by residents, the Lebu community, who would like to see a high school being built on the land. According to news reports, gendarmes cornered off the neighbourhood in the morning, blocking people from entering and leaving, including journalists. Violent clashes reportedly broke out, with security forces using tear gas to disperse protesters.

According to Amnesty International, there had been protests in the Ngor neighbourhood since mid-April 2023 over the use of the plot of land, with gendarmerie often resorting, as shown in videos, to the use of excessive force, including the use of live ammunition and firing tear gas in enclosed spaces.

Expression

Suspension of access to mobile internet and social media

On 4th June 2023, amid widespread protests and violent clashes following Sonko’s conviction, authorities shut down internet access via mobile data, which remained inaccessible until its resumption on 7th June 2023. In a statement, the ministry of communication, telecommunications and digital economy said that this was due to “subversive messages in a context of public disorder in certain time periods”. Access to social media platforms, such as Facebook, Twitter and WhatsApp had already been restricted as of 1st June 2023.

Suspension of Walf TV for covering Sonko protests

On 9th June 2023, television station Walf TV of media group Walfadjri was notified of the suspension of its programmes for a period of 30 days, effective from 1st June 2023. That day, the signal of Walf TV was cut for a period of 48 hours without prior notice, reportedly on orders of the Minister of Communication, interrupting their coverage of the protests and violence following the conviction of opposition leader Ousmane Sonko.

Authorities accuse Walf TV of “dissemination of images of violence exposing minors, accompanied by subversive and hateful remarks undermining the stability of the State” in their coverage of the Sonko protests. Sadibou Marong of Reporters without Borders (RSF) commented:

As a result of the suspension, the media group saw itself forced to send over 100 employees into technical unemployment. According to media reports, an online funding initiative to support Walf TV via the platform Wave was halted when authorities requested the platform to suspend the payments on 10th June 2023.

As reported previously on the Monitor, Walf TV was suspended for seven days on 10th February 2023 for having “irresponsible coverage” of protests in Mbacké. They were also suspended for 72 hours in March 2021 for their coverage of the protests and clashes that followed the arrest of opposition leader Ousmane Sonko for ‘disturbance of public order’ on 4th March 2021.

Journalist arrested for publication of critical editorial

On 24th May 2023, Serigne Saliou Guèye, editor of the daily Yoor Yoor, was arrested for ‘insulting magistrates’ and ‘usurpation of the profession of journalist’, following the publication of an editorial by an anonymous magistrate on the justice system and the judicial process of the Sonko case. Guèye has worked as a journalist for two decades, but reportedly does not have a diploma in journalism or a press card. Guèye was provisionally released on 20th June 2023, and remains under judicial control.

Journalist provisionally released after spending more than three months in prison

Walf TV’s journalist and court reporter Pape Ndiaye was granted provisional release on 20th June 2023 while remaining under judicial release. As reported previously on the Monitor, Ndiaye was arrested on 3rd March 2023 on accusations of ‘insulting magistrates’ and ‘spreading false news’ for statements he made on a case of alleged sexual assault on a live programme. The judicial audition to hear the merits of his case was postponed twice.

Association

Activist arrested, charged

According to Amnesty International, several activists were arrested ahead of or in the context of the protests of 1st-3rd June 2023. Aliou Sané, leader of the social movement Y’en a Marre (We had enough) and member of the F24 platform (Forces Vives de la Nation F24), an umbrella platform uniting over 100 opposition parties and civil society organisations in their fight against a possible third term for Macky Sall, was arrested in Dakar on 29th May 2023 when he attempted to visit Ousmane Sonko at his Dakar residence, who was prevented from leaving. On 30th May 2023, Sané was taken to the office of the Public Prosecutor and charged with taking part in an undeclared demonstration and disturbance of peace, among other charges. Furthermore, two members of Front pour une Révolution Anti-Impérialiste Populaire et Panafricain (FRAPP - Popular Anti-Imperialist and Pan-African Revolution Front) were arrested. Bentaleb Sow was arrested on 31st May 2023 at his home in Colobane, while Moustapha Diop was taken into custody the following day when he tried to check up on detainees.

According to media reports, activist and member of the platform F24, Pape Abdoulaye Touré, was arrested on 2nd June 2023, reportedly in the context of the June protests, and was badly beaten by thugs ahead of his arrest. He was reportedly charged with calling for insurrection and participation in a prohibited gathering.