Senegal Protests After Opposition Leader Ousmane Sonko Arrested
Tish 
Large protests have hit Senegal for a third day as many demonstrators burnt cars and clashed with police after the arrest of an opposition leader Sonko on Wednesday. Ousmane Sonko appeared in court on Friday accused of disrupting public order. He also faces a rape allegation. He denies all the allegations and his supporters say the accusations are also politically motivated. At least one
person has died in the rare nationwide unrest. Senegal is one of West Africa's most stable countries. On Friday police fired tear gas at Mr Ousmane's supporters in the capital Dakar where some shops and schools closed during the protests. Police also blocked motorbikes and mopeds, which are popular among Ousmane's young supporters, from the city's streets. Demonstrators have
Cars were burnt near the headquarters of a radio station thought to be close to Senegal's government
Demonstrators have gathered in the city's surrounding areas and in the southern city of Bignona, a stronghold of Mr Sonko. Two private TV channels that covered the protests have been suspended for 72 hours also by the government. Senegal's government has condemned the protests as flagrant violation of the state of emergency put in place to tackle coronavirus.
The unrest is rare in the West African country
The United Nations' special envoy for West Africa Mohamed Ibn Chambas has appealed for calm. Mr Sonko, 46, was accused of rape in February by a woman who worked in a beauty salon.
Police have used tear gas against protesters in the capital Dakar
Following an investigation Sonko was arrested on the Wednesday and taken to court accompanied by a group of supporters. Police said they then arrested him for disrupting public order when he refused to change his route to the court. Mr Sonko says the allegations of rape are fabricated. He accuses Senegal's President Macky Sall of trying to remove potential opponents
ahead of the 2024 election and Two other opposition leaders were excluded from the 2019 election after being convicted on the charges which they say were politically motivated. There are reports that Mr Sall may seek to change the constitution to allow him to run for a third term. Mr Sonko is the president's only remaining serious challenger, the opposition politician, Sonko is particularly popular with young Senegalese for his
Sonko, 46, is popular among Senegal's youth
promise of radical opposition to what Sonko calls the system. In the 2014 he founded his own political party, Nastef, and came third in the 2019 presidential election with 15% of the vote. In a video recorded and shared on social media in 2018, Mr Sonko told activists: There is enormous potential in this country. It is unacceptable to see suffering of our people adding our politicians are criminals. Those who have ruled Senegal from the beginning deserve to be shot.
