Afrigather **Simon, 27, picks up a stone. He strikes ahead and throws it on the police. The officers will not come nearer. Simon says he is able to give his life to guard his chief, Senegal’s predominant opposition determine Ousmane Sonko. For months, the destiny of this man has gotten intertwined with that of Senegal. For his supporters no less than, they do not envision some other future than one through which Sonko leads the nation.
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The 48-year-old politician who’s declared his intention to run within the 2024 presidential election, was set to seem on Tuesday (Could. 17) earlier than a felony chamber in Dakar over a rape accusation.
However that he didn’t do. He was a number of hundred kilometres away, in Ziguinchor, the primary metropolis in southern Senegal.
Sonko additionally occurs to be the mayor of the town. He has retired there for a number of days. His trial was lastly postponed to 23 Could.
Regardless of a sleepless evening and violent clashes the day earlier than with police within the capital of Casamance, Simon and his younger comrades continued to face guard on Tuesday (Could 16) across the residence of the person they see as their saviour.
They hate President Macky Sall. They accuse him of getting deserted them. Lots of them are unemployed or survive on small jobs, going through financial difficulties.
Carrying masks and carrying sticks or stones, they’ve dominated over the town’s predominant roads. These have been plagued by stones and burnt tyres since Monday (Could. 16).
The younger males have been blocking the paths that result in the home of the chief of the PASTEF occasion. Ousmane Sonko has repeatedly alleged a plot by the federal government is unfolding to place an finish to his political profession.
By the previous, the ruling Alliance for the Republic occasion accused has accused Sonko and his occasion of embracing an “insurrectionary mindset”.
The younger individuals who assist the opposition occasion chief, largely aged between 18 and 30, suspect that the state desires to catch the mayor of Ziguinchor.
“We’re prepared to depart our lives on this combat. The one who desires to get Sonko out of right here must stroll over our lifeless our bodies”, says a younger man in the midst of a bunch. All of them are hooded and carry bottles of vinegar to guard themselves from tear fuel, they are saying
Some girls wearing black, singing and dancing in entrance of the opponent’s home are additionally “combating this combat”. They belong to the “sacred wooden”, a standard group to which mystical powers are attributed. “They’re there to guard Ousmane Sonko”, a demonstrator explains.
Lethal protests
Because the protesters say they’re prepared to surrender their life for Sonko’s sake, many earlier than them have already been killed. In March 2021, giant protests shook Senegal following the arrest of the political opponant who was on his option to a court docket summons in reference to the rape criticism [Editor’s Note: His court appearance that has been postponed to May 23 concerns this same case].
Previous to that incident, Sonko had his parliamentary immunity removed as several members of his party, Pastef-Les Patriotes and civil society were “arbitrarily arrested” according to Amnesty.
Two years later, the households of a lot of the victims are nonetheless ready for justice.
Anger and worry
With such a historical past and amidst nice rigidity, Ziguinchor appears in shutdown. Most outlets are closed. So are faculties.
Simon is on the entrance line of the clashes towards the police. The one father says he’s combating for “the way forward for his son” and “that of Senegal”.
An electrician by commerce, the 27-year-old laments the truth that unemployment within the area is “endemic”. “I can go three months with no job to the purpose the place it is arduous to offer 500 francs [Editor’s note: about 0.83 USD] to the home,” he says.
Ansou is 29. He research arithmetic on the Assane Seck College in Ziguinchor. He too is stuffed with anger and despair. Identical to Simon, he struggles to discover a job, he says.
“We be busy round daily however obtain nothing. It hurts, we will not even assist our dad and mom,” Maurice who agrees entire heartedly with Ansou confesses.
The county-town of the Casamance area, Ziguinchor, is residence to 641 254 folks. The Nationwide Company for Statistics and Demography (ANSD) says over 70% of those resident are youth.
Regardless of its robust financial potential -the area is endowed with forest assets amongst different things- motorbike cabs generally often called Jakarta is the primary supplier of employment for younger folks. Many graduates who couldn’t discover some other job additionally work as Jakarta drivers. Most of them hope the occupation shall be a springboard for higher.
For a complete era, Ousmane Sonko has develop into greater than a politician, he embodies their craving for a affluent Senegal. “I used to be not all for politics however his speech satisfied me,” Ousmane explains.
“With him there shall be no extra injustice, no extra thieves on this nation. He’s a person of precept,” the younger man provides, revealing he is able to combat and even hand over his life for the trigger.
On Tuesday (Could. 16), after just a few hours of calm, the clashes resumed at noon, regardless of the postponement of Ousman Sonko’s the trial.
Amidst clouds of tear fuel fired by the police, kids beneath the age of ten have been working round, able to throw stones.
Extra sources • Amnesty Worldwide
