Two people lost their lives amid the demonstrations, with reports noting that supporters of Ousmane Sonko, the Senegalese opposition figure and mayor of Ziguinchor, summoned attention to the protests. Authorities confirmed the fatalities as the unrest unfolded across major cities.
Local outlets reported through Le Soleil that the Interior Ministry confirmed two deaths connected to the demonstrations, one in Dakar, the capital, and the other in Ziguinchor. One victim was identified as Pape Amadou Keita after a stabbing, while the identity of the second deceased protester had not been verified at the time of reporting. These events added to a growing sense of volatility surrounding the demonstrations.
Authorities later announced that a police officer died in an incident involving an armored vehicle used by security forces deployed to manage the protests.
On Monday, security forces used tear gas against crowds gathered in front of Sonko’s residence, aiming to deter potential arrests as supporters pressed for the legal summons facing Sonko. He is asked to appear before a court in Dakar in a case involving rape and threats against a hairdresser employee in 2021. Hospital sources cited by the APS news agency indicated that at least 28 people were injured, including 25 protesters and three police officers, and were treated at various medical facilities.
Sonko’s legal and political challenges trace back to 2021, when he was arrested after a bloc of opposition lawmakers petitioned the Constitutional Court to lift their parliamentary immunity. The arrest of the third-place contender in the 2019 presidential race triggered a wave of protests that led to numerous fatalities and widespread unrest. The opposition has repeatedly voiced its condemnation of the arrests and protests have continued at intervals. President Macky Sall has faced debate in Senegal over term limits and constitutional provisions, with discussions around a potential bid for a third term drawing substantial attention and concern about political stability in the country.