By Ebi Kesiena
Senegalese President, Macky Sall has disclosed that the country’s commitment to democracy will continue despite those that try to paint the country with darker colours.
Sall noted this while speaking in Lisbon to reporters along with Portuguese President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa.
Recall that in recent weeks, Dakar has seen deadly clashes break out between Senegalese police and supporters of opposition leader Ousmane Sonko after Sonko was convicted of corrupting youth, but acquitted on charges of raping a woman who worked at a massage parlour and making death threats against her.
While the army patrolled the streets as police fired tear gas at the demonstrators, detaining people deemed to be causing trouble.
Sonko came third in Senegal’s 2019 presidential election and is popular with the country’s youth.
His supporters maintain his legal troubles are part of a government effort to derail his candidacy in the 2024 presidential election.
Sonko is considered President Macky Sall’s main competition and has urged Sall to state publicly that he won’t seek a third term in office.
The Senegalese president ordered an investigation to determine who was responsible for protests by supporters of his political opponent but said he was open to consulting with the parties involved.
Sall is on an official visit to Portugal after an official welcoming ceremony and meeting, the Portuguese President praised Senegal’s role in support of restoring peace in Ukraine.
