Senegal braces for new nationwide protests

Senegal is bracing for a fresh round of protests, with demonstrations slated to start on Monday in the West African country's capital, Dakar, as opposition leader Ousmane Sonko is set to appear in court following his arrest last week.

Mr. Sonko will be questioned over a rape charge that he claims is politically motivated.

Days of protests followed the arrest of the opposition leader. During the protests, five people were killed, including a schoolboy.

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Senegal, a stable country in a turbulent region, is seeing the worst violence in years.

During anti-government protests, opposition supporters set fire to cars, looted stores, and threw stones at police, voicing grievances over falling living standards during the pandemic. This protest has led to shut down of school for one week.