The police have clashed with the demonstrators in the streets of Dakar and Ziguinchor since Thursday, resulting in the death of ten people. Soldiers have been deployed in several sectors of the capital to control the situation after Ousmane Sonko was sentenced to two years for “youth corruption”.
Faced with the demonstrations that followed the conviction of Ousmane Sonko, army, and military vehicles were positioned on Friday, June 2nd in several sectors of Dakar. But only to secure sites deemed strategic, according to Maham Ka, spokesperson for the Ministry of the Interior at RTS, the national radio and television station. “All the precautions of defense and security organizations have been taken, and it’s well organized,” he said.
“These are two categories and 3 forces. The police, the gendarmerie, and the army, and each in the event of trouble, has its role to play. We have police officers who are positioned in certain sectors who play a role, gendarmes who play another role, and soldiers who are positioned just for the moment in so-called strategic places”. Maham Ka added.
The spokesperson for the Ministry of the Interior concedes “that there are troubles, it’s true” and insists on one point: the soldiers do not ensure the maintenance of order. All of this, “is the work of the police and the gendarmerie”. “There are demonstrations, but it is being managed properly by the police and gendarmerie forces. Now, whenever there are concerns, there are vital and strategic installations – we can think of telecommunications installations or things like that, energy, etc. -, where we must place military forces that are currently only positioned. And they don’t do any policing work. It is just a normal positioning in case of unrest,” said Maham Ka.
“The Use of Force has Exceeded All Limits”
Interior Minister Antoine Félix Diome announced the restriction of access to social networks and certain messaging services “through which calls for violence and hatred are made”, he said. A decision condemned by Amnesty International.
The NGO is also very concerned about the disproportionate use of force by the police. “Firearms should only be used to protect one’s own life and the life of others. We have not seen this kind of situation in the various elements that have circulated in social networks and on television”.