Amnesty in Senegal, we need a credible investigation into the protests

The non-governmental organization Amnesty International has called on the Senegalese authorities to carry out a "credible, independent and impartial" investigation into the violence that took place in the recent protests, stating that the victims are at least 23, while according to the official government toll they amount to 16 according to . The NGO states on its website that the dead, including three children, were recorded in the capital Dakar and in the southern city of Ziguinchor during demonstrations on Thursday and Friday last week.

Amnesty has asked the Senegalese authorities "to ensure that those responsible are prosecuted according to fair trial standards". Dakar had previously said it had launched an investigation and did not comment on Amnesty's statements. The recent protests in the African country are linked to the trial of opposition leader Ousmane Sonko, sentenced last June 1 in absentia to two years in prison for immoral behavior, but acquitted of rape. His supporters say the allegations against him are politically motivated.