Senegal Opposition Leader Supporters Violently Clash With Police

Hundreds of supporters of Senegal’s main opposition leader Ousmane Sonko, on Wednesday clashed with police in Dakar, the capital while protesting against his arrest. The widespread support Sonko enjoys among Senegalese youth was on full display on Wednesday. Near his house, supporters burned tyres and threw rocks at riot police, who responded by firing tear gas. 

“We are ready to die for Sonko!” some chanted. At Cheikh Anta Diop University in central Dakar, hundreds of students charged the police and threw rocks. A Reuters reporter saw a policeman firing an automatic rifle into the crowd and several others firing shotguns, though it was not clear what rounds were used. There were no immediate reports of injuries.

With Reuters