By Mustapha Jarju
A report filed by an African human rights defender Afrikajom Centre has indicated that the rights and fundamental freedoms of the people of Senegal are increasingly under threat.
The Afrikajom report was launched in the Gambia last week — an event attended by the African Commission on Human and Peoples Rights Chairman and African human rights advocates, among others.
The report revealed that more than six hundred (600) people, including activists and members of the opposition’s political parties, were arrested, and the duration of their detention often exceeded the legal deadline.
“The defense and security forces used excessive and disproportionate violence against peaceful protesters in March 2021 in different cities in Senegal. The violence resulted in 13 deaths, 590 injuries, and numerous arrests among protesters,” the report stated.
The rights activist platform also reported that between 2021 and to date, more than ten (10) prominent opposition leaders were arrested and jailed; these include Wally Diouf Dodian, the Secretary General of SAID; Guy Marius Sagna, an activist; Ousmane Sonko, an opposition leader, Boubacarr Seye, the President of the sans frontier, Morr Talla Gueye alias Nit Doff, Ousmane Giagne an activist of Pastef, professor Cheikh Oumar Diagne, the secretary general of the rally for truth and Ci Degg, Abdou Karim Gueye ExrumXaax, among others.
The revelations added that one hundred and sixty-nine (169) patriotic citizens of Senegal were detained, 40 were detained in Diourbel, 108 in Dakar, 16 in Thies, 1 in Kedougou, and four were detained in Ziguinchor.
14 young Senegalese were killed during protests, most of whom were below the age of 23 at the time of their deaths, including Cheikh Ibrahima Coly, a 20-year-old who was the first victim of the March 2021 protests demanding the release of famous opponent Ousmane Sonko. He died of a gun wound in the heart.
Pape Sadio Camara, an 18-year-old and the only son of his parent preparing for his examination, was also killed in Diaobe during a demonstration for the liberation of Sonko.
In response to this tragedy, the Senegalese Minister of Agriculture, Moussa Baldeh, drew an envelope of 5 million Fcfa as compensation from the state to the families of the deceased, which seemed to replace justice.
In the case of two missing Senegalese soldiers, the report has that Didier Badji and Fulbert Sambou are friends from the same village of Niomoune in Cassamance. Badji is a warrant officer of the Gendarmerie, while Sambou is an army sergeant. The duo went missing on November 19, 2022.
Four days later, Badjie’s body was recovered off the coast of Senegal, while the body of Sambou has yet to be found. However, according to the report, the search for Sambou seems to have been stopped.
