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| Senegal Deploys Military and Blocks Social Media After Deadly Clashes | Senegal Deploys Military and Blocks Social Media After Deadly Clashes |
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| The government of Senegal said on Friday that it has deployed the military in the capital, Dakar, and other cities and shut down social media platforms in response to Thursday’s deadly clashes between protesters and security forces — a new escalation of tensions rarely seen in the West African country. | The government of Senegal said on Friday that it has deployed the military in the capital, Dakar, and other cities and shut down social media platforms in response to Thursday’s deadly clashes between protesters and security forces — a new escalation of tensions rarely seen in the West African country. |
| Demonstrators took to the streets across the West African nation on Thursday shortly after a court convicted a leading opposition figure, Ousmane Sonko, on charges of “corrupting youth,” while acquitting him on the major charges he had faced of rape and making death threats. Mr. Sonko was sentenced to two years in prison in a case that his supporters said was politically motivated. | Demonstrators took to the streets across the West African nation on Thursday shortly after a court convicted a leading opposition figure, Ousmane Sonko, on charges of “corrupting youth,” while acquitting him on the major charges he had faced of rape and making death threats. Mr. Sonko was sentenced to two years in prison in a case that his supporters said was politically motivated. |
| Shortly after the verdict, demonstrators brawled with security forces, resulting in the deaths of at least nine people, according to the government. | Shortly after the verdict, demonstrators brawled with security forces, resulting in the deaths of at least nine people, according to the government. |
| Periodic demonstrations have broken out in Senegal since the arrest of Mr. Sonko in 2021 after a massage parlor employee accused him of rape. But the violence of Thursday brought tensions in Senegal, a largely peaceful country, to a new high. Protesters fought with security forces in multiple neighborhoods of Dakar, and parts of the city’s main university were damaged. Supermarkets, train and gas stations were also burned down in several cities. | Periodic demonstrations have broken out in Senegal since the arrest of Mr. Sonko in 2021 after a massage parlor employee accused him of rape. But the violence of Thursday brought tensions in Senegal, a largely peaceful country, to a new high. Protesters fought with security forces in multiple neighborhoods of Dakar, and parts of the city’s main university were damaged. Supermarkets, train and gas stations were also burned down in several cities. |