DAKAR - Tensions remained high in Senegal on Saturday after fresh overnight clashes brought the death toll to 15 in the two days since a court convicted opposition leader Ousmane Sonko.
He claims the charges against him were a bid by the government to torpedo his political career ahead of the presidential election next year.Clashes between Sonko's supporters and police broke out after the ruling on Thursday, leaving nine people dead.The army was deployed to the streets but fresh scuffles erupted on Friday night in parts of the capital, Dakar, and in Ziguinchor.Burned-out cars, tyres and debris-strewn streets bore testimony to another night of violence.
Sonko, who was tried in absentia, has yet to be taken into custody for his jail term, which is predicted to cause further tensions. He has spoken out against debt, poverty, food insecurity, under-funded health and education systems and corruption. "We didn't expect this. Political affairs shouldn't concern us," said Babacar Ndiaye, a 26-year-old student.On Friday, United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres condemned the violence and "urged all those involved to... exercise restraint".
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