Violent clashes erupted Thursday between security forces and protesters in the northern Senegalese city of Rosso, following public outrage over the death of a young man who, according to his family, was tortured by local police officers.
Eyewitnesses reported that police fired tear gas while demonstrators responded by throwing stones, resulting in at least one injury requiring hospitalization.
The unrest was sparked by an autopsy report confirming that the young man died as a result of torture, triggering widespread anger across the country.
Senegalese President Bassirou Diomaye Faye condemned “the excessive use of police force” on Wednesday and called for a “swift and thorough investigation” to hold those responsible accountable, speaking shortly after returning from an international trip.
He also voiced strong opposition to such abuses, citing the recent incidents in Rosso and Cambérène (a suburb of Dakar) where civilians lost their lives.
Rosso, located along the border with Mauritania, has been the scene of repeated tensions. The two nations are currently discussing enhanced security cooperation following the Senegalese Prime Minister’s official visit to Nouakchott last month.
