President Macky Sall of Senegal has broken his silence over the series of protests witnessed in Senegal for days, over the arrest of opposition leader Ousmane Sonko.
The president called for calm and serenity in the country, saying, “each life lost is a mourning for the Nation. This is why the state will come to the aid of bereaved families and facilitate access to care for the injured.”
Sall further commended the Defense and Security forces saying, “In the face of such incredible violence, where children and women were put, in an organized manner, on the front line in the scenes of breakage, our Defense and Security Forces demonstrated professionalism and restraint. Otherwise, the toll would have been heavier.”
Ousmane Sonko was on Monday released on bail after being arraigned, he faces a rape charge which he has since denied, saying the accusations are politically motivated.
After his release, Sonko asked his supporters to continue with peaceful demonstrations.
“We are not asking the people to go and unseat Macky Sall,” he said at a news conference.
“But let’s be clear, the revolution is marching its way to 2024,” Sonko said in reference to the next presidential election.
The protests which commenced Wednesday as a result of Sonko’s arrest have led to the death of at least 5 people including a 17-year-old boy.
Schools in the capital were also ordered to close for a week following the unrest. (CGTN Africa)
