Pressure mounts on Senegal’s president after deadly protests
DAKAR: Senegalese President Macky Sall faced mounting pressure to speak out after a wave of deadly violence rocked the country.
Five people including a schoolboy have been killed in days of clashes that erupted after the arrest of an opposition leader, the worst violence in years in a country usually seen as a beacon of stability in a volatile region.
People torched cars, looted shops and hurled stones at police during the protests, which have highlighted longstanding grievances over living standards and economic exclusion in the West African state.
The unrest has alarmed the United Nations and Senegal’s neighbours, which have appealed for all sides to show restraint.
Senegal’s government ombudsman Alioune Badara Cisse also urged Sall to respond to the violence, as the country braced for a new round of opposition protests from
Monday.
“Senegalese people want to hear you,” Cisse said at a press conference in the capital Dakar. “Why the devil wouldn’t you talk to them?”
“Do it before it’s too late,” added Cisse, who formerly served as a foreign minister under Sall but whose role as ombudsman is to mediate between government institutions and to safeguard human rights.
Petra Kvitova thrashed Garbine Muguruza 6-2, 6-1 to win her second Qatar Open title on Saturday. The fourth-seeded Czech needed just over an hour to see off her fellow two-time Grand Slam winner.
It was Kvitova’s 28th career title from 38 finals played. “It’s been a great run — tough conditions,” said Kvitova after her victory. It followed her Doha title of 2018, which also came at the expense of Muguruza. “I’m sorry for the second time, I hope we can meet somewhere else,” she added, nodding towards her vanquished rival. Muguruza had the benefit of a full rest day on Friday. .