Senegal in Turmoil: Protests and Social Media Blocks After Opposition Leader's Sentencing

Clashes erupted in Senegal after opposition figure Ousmane Sonko was sentenced to two years in prison for "corrupting youth," but acquitted on rape and death threat charges. Sonko's supporters denounce the charges as a ploy to prevent him from running in presidential elections scheduled for February 2024. The case has triggered violent protests amid growing frustration with President Macky Sall, who critics say has failed to create jobs and stifled opposition criticism. Sonko placed third in Senegal's 2019 presidential election and is popular with the country's youth.