Senegal: Sall sentenced to five years in prison March 30 /update 9

Event

On Friday, March 30, opposition leader Khalifa Sall was sentenced to five years in prison after being convicted of embezzlement. Sall was also ordered to pay a USD 9392 (5 million CFA) fine. Supporters of Sall reportedly staged a protest in the Dakar Courthouse following the judge's ruling, forcing officials to evacuate the building. Demonstrations in support of Sall are possible in the coming days, particularly in Dakar.

Context

Sall, the leader of the opposition coalition Manko Taxawu Senegal (MTS), has been in prison since March 2017 on embezzlement charges, but was nevertheless elected to parliament in July 2017, without being able to take his seat. On November 25, 2017, the National Assembly lifted parliamentary immunity, allowing Sall's trial to proceed and prompting his supporters to stage protests in front of the National Assembly building in Dakar. Subsequent trial hearings, including on January 3, also lead to clashes between protesters and police, both inside the courtroom and around the building. Several journalists were reportedly detained on January 3 during a brief resumption of the trial, before renewed security threats forced the case to be postponed.

Advice

Individuals in Dakar and across the country are advised to remain vigilant, monitor the situation via local media, and avoid any form of public demonstration or public gathering due to the risk of violence