<p><strong><i><strong><a href="https://www.okayafrica.com/endsars-nigeria-protests-breaking-down-how-you-can-help-sarsmustend/" target="_blank">READ: Breaking Down Nigeria's #EndSARS Protests and How You Can Help</a></strong></i></strong><strong><em></em></strong></p><p><div class="preroll-video"></div><ora-player></ora-player></p><p><a href="https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2021/3/4/senegal-clashes-kill-one-after-opposition-leader-arrest" target="_blank">According to </a><strong><em><a href="https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2021/3/4/senegal-clashes-kill-one-after-opposition-leader-arrest">Al Jazeera</a></em></strong>, Sonko's recent arrest has triggered "the worst unrest seen in the capital of Senegal in years". Leader of the <strong>Pastef</strong> <strong>Les Patriotes</strong> party and a former presidential candidate, Sonko is seen as a formidable opposition figure to current President <strong>Macky Sall</strong> especially with elections in three years' time. <strong><em>France24</em></strong> reports that there is continued uncertainty as to whether <a href="https://www.france24.com/en/africa/20210303-senegal-opposition-leader-sonko-arrested-on-way-to-dakar-court-to-face-rape-charge" target="_blank">President Sall will seek a third term in office</a>.</p><p>Additionally, two private television stations in Senegal have been suspended after the country's National Audiovisual Regulatory Council (CNRA) accused them of being hyper focused on the current protests, <strong><em>BBC</em></strong> reports. Moreover, access to the internet and social media platforms had been temporarily restricted amid the protests. </p><p>These latest protests are however, not the first to occur this year. <a href="https://www.okayafrica.com/coronavirus-protests-in-senegal-against-curfew/" target="_blank">Protests erupted for the second time earlier this year</a> in January over the curfew put in place as part of COVID-19 preventive measures. Senegalese youth expressed their dissatisfaction towards the curfew as it had affected their various economic activities and means to earning a livelihood.</p><p><div class="dfp_atf-slot" data-not-loaded="true"></div><script type="text/javascript">
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