Senegal’s President Macky Sall has called for calm, appealing in an address to the nation for protesters to avoid confrontation.
Thousands of Opposition leader, Ousmane Sonko’s supporters gathered in a central square in Dakar earlier Monday after he was charged, throwing stones at police and torching a car, before security forces dispersed them with tear gas.
“We cannot allow Macky Sall to flout democracy and imprison his opponents,” said Rama Diop, a 30-year-old protester.
At least five people have been killed in the protest which resulted into a clash between security forces and opposition supporters.
The protesters allege that the rape charge is designed to smear Sonko and cripples his plans to run against President in 2024.
After his release on Monday, Sonko has called for “much larger” protests, but urged non-violence.
Speaking in Dakar, the opposition leader said “the revolution has already started and nobody can stop it”.
In a nationwide address on Monday evening, President Sall appealed to protesters to “silence our bitterness and avoid the logic of confrontation which leads to the worst”.
“The courts should be left to do their job in all independence”, he added.
He has also announced an easing of the curfews in two regions, including Dakar.
