2023-06-06 03:32:03
Dakar, June 5 (APS) – The Synergy of Civil Society Organizations for Peace (SOS/Paix) calls on the Head of State and the leader of the opposition, in a statement made Monday to the press, to maintain ”a direct dialogue” with a view to ”an immediate end to the crisis” in Senegal, following the political violence at the origin of the death of 16 people.
”For an immediate end to the crisis, we call for a direct dialogue between the two main protagonists of these events, the President of the Republic, Macky Sall, and the opponent Ousmane Sonko, president of Pastef”, affirm these organisations.
SOS/Paix ”undertakes to meet” the political leaders concerned, ”as soon as possible”, to ”facilitate a definitive end to the crisis”.
The statement was made before the press by its leaders, including Boubacar Ba (Forum of the Justiciable), Moundiaye Cissé (NGO 3D), Ababacar Fall (GRADEC), Professor Babacar Guèye (COSCE), Sadikh Niass (RADDHO), Abibatou Samb (ONDH), Cheikh Oumar Sy (OSIDEA) and Khady Fall Tall (AFAO).
These civil society leaders invited Macky Sall and Ousmane Sonko to speak to each other directly, following riots that left at least 16 dead and significant material damage, according to an official report.
The violence erupted on Thursday, after Mr. Sonko was sentenced by the criminal chamber of the Dakar court to two years in prison for “youth corruption”.
He was tried for rape and death threats against Adji Sarr, a former employee of a beauty salon in Dakar.
The court disqualified the facts of rape and death threats for which he was prosecuted in youth corruption.
The prison sentence is likely to prevent him from running in the 2024 presidential election, for which he declared himself a candidate, his lawyers say, relying on the country’s electoral code.
”Refrain from any act of violence”
”Our dear country, Senegal, is in permanent political, social and economic instability. […] The clashes between the security forces and the demonstrators caused about fifteen deaths and significant material damage. They seriously threaten the foundations of democracy and the Republic and jeopardize the peace and stability of our country”, the 20 civil society organizations are indignant.
They call on ”actors for calm and serenity, for a rapid return to peace and stability”.
They also urge ”the government to make every effort to restore order and the security of people and property, with strict respect for human rights”.
Professor Babacar Guèye and the other leaders of civil society also invite ”the actors of the opposition and those in power to favor frank and sincere dialogue in order to find strong consensus, allowing us to overcome the ordeals our country is going through”.
They want ”political actors on all sides” to show ”more restraint by taking measures to ease the tension and by calling on demonstrators to refrain from any act of violence”.
SOS/Paix proposes to the public authorities to ”reduce the prison population by releasing prisoners of minor offense or opinion”.
According to the National Police, some 500 people were arrested during the riots between Thursday and Sunday.
”We salute the effort of restraint and patience of the defense and security forces, despite the deplorable incidents”, say civil society organisations.
They invite the Senegalese authorities to “re-establish the network” Internet, which is subject to restrictions because of the messages of “hate” that it allows to convey, according to the government.
ESF/ASG
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