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The Senegalese opposition introduced on Tuesday that it might push forward with demonstrations in Dakar on Wednesday and Thursday regardless of a ban, whereas authorities mentioned they’d arrested 4 members of a gaggle in search of to stop the resumption of the trial of opposition chief Ousmane Sonko by “sowing chaos and riot”.
Lawyer Normal Ibrahima Bakhoum mentioned the group had produced explosives and “put the soundness of the nation at stake”.
Tensions are rising forward of Sonko‘s trial later this week, in a defamation case that might make him ineligible to contest subsequent yr’s presidential election.
Sonko and his supporters accuse the federal government of utilizing the justice system to stop him from operating in February 2024.
The opposition says it should push forward with demonstrations on Wednesday and Thursday regardless of a ban by the authorities.
Bakhoum advised a press convention that the group aiming to stop Sonko’s trial from resuming deliberate “to hold out subversive acts and undermine public figures within the judiciary, the state equipment, in spiritual circles and the press”.
He mentioned they’d produced “explosives” and “Molotov cocktails”, visiting a market close to Guinea to pay money for weapons.
The 4 folks held have been arrested for “prison affiliation, acts and manoeuvres prone to disturb public order, arson”, the prosecutor mentioned, including that 19 others have been needed by the authorities.
A type of arrested claimed to be from the Motion of Democratic Forces of Casamance, a gaggle of separatist rebels, the authorities mentioned.
Tense week
Senegal, a uncommon island of stability within the troubled West African area, is seeing one other tense week with the resumption of the libel trial in opposition to Sonko on Thursday.
The opposition is demanding “the discharge as quickly as potential of all political detainees” and calling for help for Sonko.
Senegal’s President Macky Sall has requested the federal government to take measures to “protect public order” after earlier protests over the trial left at the least one particular person lifeless.
Sall has denied Sonko’s accusation that the judiciary is getting used to sideline him from the vote.
The presidential camp accuses Sonko of drumming up anger within the streets in a bid to flee justice.
An in depth affiliate and spokesman for Sonko was charged on Monday over the spreading of “faux information”, a lawyer mentioned.
El Hadji Malick Ndiaye, head of communications for Sonko’s occasion, was charged and electronically tagged over a message posted on Fb on March 16 concerning the circumstances beneath which Sonko was taken to courtroom in Dakar on that day, beneath heavy police escort.
(FRANCE 24 with AFP)
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