2023-06-04 00:44:59
With our correspondent in Dakar, Charlotte Idrac
« Acts of vandalism, which have nothing to do with political demonstrations “, that is the positionn of the government which insists on the looting and looting of the last days. The Minister of Tourism Mame Mbaye Niang had sued Ousmane Sonko in another procedure for “defamation”. In a very offensive statement at the headquarters of the presidential party, he denounced the presence of ” strangers behind the protesters.
« We will not give in to these groups, nor to these foreigners who have come from elsewhere to destabilize our country. The Senegalese, especially the youth of this country, will take their responsibilities to face these invaders, to face these cowardly political leaders who created situations and who took off. We will organize ourselves district by district and we will face it. »
“Don’t mess up this country”
Same story with the Minister of the Interior who sees ” occult forces I quote would be present among the demonstrators. However, it does not specify who it is precisely: Our country has been under attack by occult forces as I reported in 2021. At the time, this drew criticism. The events of the past few days seem to have opened the eyes of the most skeptical. There was a clear desire to affect the normal functioning of our economic activity. The choice of targets is not fortuitous: we have noted that installations vital to the functioning of the country have been the object of attacks or attempted attacks. »
Another reaction, that of the mayor of Dakar, Barthelemy Dias. A figure in the opposition coalition Yewwi Askan Wi, he had recently distanced himself from Ousmane Sonko. Regarding the conviction of the leader of the Pastef party, he denounces a ” parody of justice “, and directly challenges President Macky Sall:
« Mr. President of the Republic, today you have the key to resolving the crisis in this country. I will ask you, Mr. President Macky Sall, to evacuate this question concerning this will which is attributed to you to want to run for a third term. I invite you to take your responsibilities and speak to the Senegalese people. You do not have the right to eliminate political opponents. Let’s not screw up this country. »
Ousmane Sonko has not spoken publicly since his conviction.
■ In Ziguinchor, the demonstrations continue
The city of Ziguinchor is one of the epicenters of these riots with its share of loss of life, five in total, according to the official report, and enormous damage. Between scenes of looting and acts of civil disobedience, the demonstrators still do not take off in the main city in the south of the country of which Ousmane Sonko is the mayor. Saturday, the third day, the young people continued to demonstrate even if the demonstrations were not of the same magnitude as the first two days.
We want the total freedom of Mr. Ousmane Sonko; we also want justice done because there is too much injustice
Ziguinchor, between calls for calm and demands for justice
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