Dakar, 02 June, 2023 / 9:00 pm (ACI Africa).
Catholic Bishops in Senegal are “very concerned” about the violent protests in the country that have resulted in the loss of at least nine lives, and are appealing for “restraint”, and for reason to prevail over emotions.
On Thursday, June 1, nine people were reportedly killed in parts of Senegal’s capital, Dakar, as well as in other cities following clashes between riot police and supporters of opposition leader Ousmane Sonko after a court sentenced him to two years in jail, Reuters reported.
The opposition in the West African nation have termed the court’s verdict, which could prevent Sonko from running in next year’s elections, “politically motivated”.
In their collective statement shared with ACI Africa Friday, June 2, members of the Episcopal Conference of Senegal, Mauritania, Cape Verde and Guinea Bissau say, “We are very concerned about the social and political climate currently prevailing in our country, particularly with the events we have been experiencing.”
They express their concern about the “many human victims, as well as all the acts of destruction of public and private property” and the general “climate of fear and insecurity” that currently prevails.
