Scores of people were detained during the most recent flare-up of demonstrations in Senegal

On Thursday, police in Dakar, the capital city of Senegal, made dozens of arrests as protestors threw rocks at them and barricaded streets with burning tyres.

Even though Ousmane Sonko, the leader of the opposition, is supposedly being tried on false charges meant to stop him from running for president in the country’s elections next year, tensions in West Africa have gotten worse.

For reportedly accusing the tourism minister of embezzlement, Sonko is facing libel charges. In addition, he is accused of many rapes. His rape arrest in March 2021 sparked a series of violent riots that resulted in the deaths of 14 people.

His supporters contend that both charges were made up to thwart his presidential campaign.

A 20-year-old protester named Mafall Sall told VOA he was there to free democracy. He replied, his eyes flushed with tear gas, “People are fed up and fighting back.” He continued by saying that all Macky Sall understands is power, and he neither bargains nor respects elections.

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The most recent demonstrations started on March 14 and have been more rowdy since then. According to the rights organisation Amnesty International, more than 130 protesters were detained between March 14 and March 16, and three of them were killed.

A pro-democracy organization’s head of the Senegal office, Hawa Ba, said: “We are witnessing an unprecedented number of arrests of citizens because they have either participated in protests or voiced opinions or criticism against President Macky Sall on social media. But also because they have used their rights to expression and demonstration. This is unprecedented.”

Many Senegalese are enraged by Macky Sall’s failure to say if he would run for a contentious third term in the elections held the following year. While in power, Sall changed the term restrictions that the constitution permitted, which many worry may be used as an excuse for a third presidential bid.

Similar strategies have been employed to maintain power by other regional leaders.

Abdul Diop, a 38-year-old protestor, told VOA that he is participating in the demonstration to oppose the injustices prevailing in Senegal as well as Sall’s tyranny. According to Diop, Senegal is under totalitarian rule, and the population is now willing to sacrifice their lives for change.

On Monday of next week, there will be further protests.