Ousmane Sonko’s trial on Thursday (March 16) in the capital, Dakar, was marked by violent clashes between law enforcement and young Senegalese, as the main opponent of President Macky Sall appeared in court to answer for defamation once morest the Minister of Tourism.
Atmosphere under high tension for this audience which turned into a fight, oil stain effect in the streets of Dakar… For the supporters of Ousmane Sonko, no doubt : it’s a legal plot to eliminate their champion from next year’s elections in Senegal.
Riot scene on the front page of Senegalese daily 24 hours. Mask on the nose or with their faces uncovered, three demonstrators launch projectiles into a chaos of streets strewn with overturned street furniture. “ Clashes everywhere, Dakar on fire and flame ! », lance 24 hours. On the inside pages, this newspaper, district by district, describes the scenes of looting that marked the day on Thursday in the capital. “ Senegal is in permanent political turmoil and remains in a decisive turning point in terms of its legendary stability compared to other countries on the African continent in general and at the level of West Africa in particular. “, is terrified this Dakar newspaper. Caution, warn 24 hours« the social cohesion of our dear country (…) might take quite a blow with events (…) with inestimable consequences in terms of damage as the pre-electoral upheavals (…) are raging “, he is alarmed.
Unhealthy atmosphere in Senegal
In Burkina Faso, the daily When Sera hardly writes anything else, announcing that “ the pressure cooker will explode, but when ? wonders this Ouagalais newspaper. And When Sera to denounce “ this unhealthy sport increasingly practiced by all African leaders to put their political rivals out of play. The instrumentalization of the judiciary has become a powerful weapon of destruction of the opposition. It’s hard to imagine the opposite in this politico-judicial soap opera which agitates, and will certainly shake Senegal for another good year. A highly flammable democracy ! », sighs so When Sera.
Bravade militant anti-Faith
Renewed political tension also in Côte d’Ivoire, with the tone which has risen a notch between the government and the PPA-CI. After the controversial sending to prison, last week, of 26 militants of the party of ex-president Laurent Gbagbo, a threatening night rally by a group of young people claiming to be from the RHDP, the party of Alassane Ouattara, in front of the home of the former deputy Marie-Odette Lorougnon, is at the origin of this renewed tension.
It was Wednesday evening that young people claiming to be from the ruling party gathered in front of her residence, to protest once morest recent remarks she made at a meeting, and to threaten this leader of Laurent Gbagbo’s party with reprisals.
« The PPA-CI raises the tone “, launches the newspaper The weather. Close to this party, this daily reports the words of its spokesperson who, during a press conference, recalled that the leader of the young people who demonstrated in front of the home of Marie-Odette Lorougnon had done the same, there is three years, at the home of ex-president Bédié. Justin Katinan Koné denounced “ a plan of power and the RHDP » going through the « secular arm of the judiciary, but also by “ groups of people who have all the characteristics of a militia in the service of power », Reports The weather. Journal in which Marie-Odette Lorougnon reports that she filed a complaint for “ death threats, home invasions and incitement to hatred ” notably.
Who is boy in Abidjan ?
« Koné Katinan and the PPA-CI denounce ”a plan of power and the RHDP” “, launches in One the daily Last Hour World. This daily close to the PDCI-RDA of former President Bédié also mentions “ the instrumentalization of the judiciary by the RHDP power ».
For its part, the independent daily Evening Info underlines the indignation of the spokesperson of the PPA-CI, because of “ these acts by militants of the ruling party, regretting that they enjoy total impunity. Justin Katinan Koné warned of anything that would happen to Marie-Odette Lorougnon and other party members », Reports Evening Info.
