UN Criticizes Senegal Firing on Protesters, Urges Independent Investigation

Wed Jun 14 2023
icon-facebook icon-twitter icon-whatsapp

GENEVA:  The United Nations (UN) on Tuesday denounced the use of firearms to suppress protests in Senegal, urging for an independent investigation and punishment for the culprits.

The violence was sparked by the handing of a two-year sentence to opposition leader Ousmane Sonko for making him ineligible to take part in the presidential elections next year. The opposition leader alleges President Macky Sall of attempting to install a “dictatorship” at the top of a corrupt elite.

UN Denounces Senegal Firing on Protesters

As many as 23 people were killed in the unrest while the authorities put the toll at sixteen, AFP reported. UN rights office spokesperson Seif Magango told the media in Geneva, “The use of guns by security personnel during protest demonstrations sets a negative example for Senegal,”.

Seif Magango noted that Senegal had initiated probs but said that the United Nations (UN) rights office wanted an ” independent, prompt, and thorough” investigation and punishment for culprits “regardless of their political affiliation.” He added that they offered their office’s help in this regard.

Ousmane Sonko, has spoken out against poverty, debt, and corruption in the African country.

According to the UN, as many as 16 people were killed, 350 injured, and over 500 arrested during the violence and protests in the African country.

Magango said that the UN is also concerned regarding continuing restrictions on freedom of expression and peaceful assembly in the aftermath of the protests and unrest in the country.

The UN said that internet services had also been restricted between June 1 and 6, apparently to stop the “distribution of horrible and dissident messages”.

Senegal’s Ministry of foreign affairs responded to the United Nations on Tuesday, saying the events earlier this month had “categorically nothing to do with the exercise of the rights of expression and protest”. It claimed that they had witnessed extremely serious attacks against the State, its institutions, and the Senegalese nation”.

Meanwhile, the government announced on Tuesday it had initiated a probe into footage showing armed men in civilian clothes during the protest and unrest.

icon-facebook icon-twitter icon-whatsapp