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A year ago, five days of demonstrations, from March 3 to 8, 2021, the most violent since the electoral tensions of 2011-2012, shook the country. The clashes erupted in the wake of the arrest of opponent Ousmane Sonko, accused of rape by Adji Sarr, once morest a backdrop of social and economic tensions linked to the Covid pandemic. Official report following these riots: 13 dead. Among them, Cheikh Wade, 32, shot dead.
With our correspondent in Dakar, Charlotte Idrac
In the family home, two portraits of Cheikh Wade, a tailor by profession, who died on March 8, 2021 in the commune of Parcelles Assainies. His mother, Marième, only found out the next day following a phone call from the police.
« It hurts my heart too much, she says. Cheikh was a worker, he had no problems. He had just come out with his flag peacefully. Here is his room, where he had his sewing machine… He was a dignified and honest son. »
A video released on social media at the time shows Sheikh Wade lying on the ground following being hit by a shot from a police officer. His family filed a complaint once morest X in May 2021, without any return to date, deplores Abdoulaye Wade, the brother of the victim.
« We feel very bad. Cheikh was killed by a police officer but justice did not say a word. The government summoned us. He negotiated with some families but we refused to go. Our goal is justice, not negotiations, money or promises. »
After the riots the government had announced the establishment of a commission of inquiry independent and impartialbut Abdoulaye Wade does not believe it: The government wants people to turn a blind eye to these events of March. »
He calls for the victims not to be forgotten: “ we will go all the way. »
In a press release published Thursday, Amnesty International Senegal calls ” justice to do its job independently and quickly to establish the facts and responsibilities a year following these violent riots.
► To reread: Adji Sarr (Senegal): “I want nothing but a trial”
