At least nine people were killed due to the protests, hence Mahamat urged “to all political actors to observe the utmost restraint and avoid such acts that spoil Senegalese democracy of which Africa has always been proud of,” Mahamat stated on a press release.

He also called for respecting citizens to exercise their rights of both freedom of speech and demonstration, as well as valuing order and the rule of law.

According to the Senegalese authorities, Sonko was sentenced to two years behind bars and is thus barred from running for the 2024 presidential elections.

On Thursday, a court in Dakar issued the sentence against Sonko for corruption of youngsters though he was acquitted of rape and threatening to kill.

One of major sites of such protests – according to witnesses – was the University of Dakar where groups of youths tossed stones at the police, who responded with tear gas.

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