Amnesty Warns of Repression Ahead of 2024 Polls in Senegal

Authorities are intensifying repression ahead of the 2024 presidential election by cracking down on human rights, restricting civic space, banning protests and detaining a journalist and opposition figures, Amnesty International has said. Over the past few months, several protests organized by political opposition have been banned, with the authorities citing a risk of "disturbing public order".

On February 10, 2023, after the authorities prohibited a meeting in Mbacké by Pastef - an opposition party founded in 2014 by Ousmane Sonko - subsequent demonstrations turned violent, and clashes erupted between protesters and security forces. Of the 69 persons arrested during the protests, 54 remained in detention in early March, on charges including "participation in an unauthorized gathering" and "damage to property".

Amnesty International's report comes after police fired tear gas at protesters demonstrating in Dakar, on Thursday March 16, 2023, ahead of the trial of presidential contender Ousmane Sonko. RFI reports that the trial was postponed until March 30.

Sonko's supporters say President Macky Sall is using the judiciary as a means to sideline him ahead of next year's elections.

Sonko, who came in third in the 2019 presidential election and who would like to run again in elections in February, is being tried for allegedly defaming a minister. He is also facing separate charges of rape and making death threats.