Opposition Leaders Arrested and Sentenced Following June 17 Demonstration in Dakar

The June 17 demonstration organized by the opposition coalition Yewwi Askan Wi (YAW) in Dakar saw not only violent clashes but also the arrest of several high-profile figures and demonstrators, further intensifying the political tension in Senegal. Among those detained were prominent opposition figures, including MPs Mame Diarra Fam and Dethié Fall, as well as Ahmed Aidara, the mayor of Guédiawaye.

Ahmed Aidara was quickly tried and sentenced on June 27 to a one-month suspended prison sentence and a fine of 50,000 FCFA for his participation in an unarmed gathering. Meanwhile, Dethié Fall was arrested near his party headquarters on the northern exit road (VDN) in Dakar, while Mame Diarra Fam was taken into custody outside the residence of Dakar's mayor, Barthélémy Dias.

Dethié Fall was sentenced to a six-month suspended prison term for participating in an unauthorized demonstration. In contrast, Mame Diarra Fam and 82 other co-defendants were acquitted of similar charges.

The arrests of these opposition figures, along with many other demonstrators, have sparked widespread criticism, with human rights groups and political observers describing the detentions as arbitrary. The opposition coalition has condemned the government for what it sees as a crackdown on freedom of assembly and expression, while supporters of the detained figures argue that their arrests reflect broader attempts to silence political dissent.

The continued arrests, legal proceedings, and the political climate surrounding these demonstrations raise concerns about the state of civil liberties in Senegal and the treatment of political opposition in the country.