Nicolas Negoce
BBC News, Dakar

TikTok has been suspended in Senegal as it is being used to spread “hateful and subversive messages threatening the stability of the country”, Minister of Communication Moussa Bocar has announced.

He described the popular social media app as the “preferred network for people with malicious intent”.

The moves comes days after firebrand opposition politician Ousmane Sonko was arrested and charged with various offences, including calling for insurrection.

Three people were killed in the city of Ziguinchor, where the politician is the mayor, during protests against his detention.

Earlier this week, mobile data internet mobile data was temporarily shut, with the minister telling telecom companies to comply with the order.