Senegal: clashes between police and students in Dakar Senegal: clashes between police and students in Dakar

Senegal: clashes between police and students in Dakar

Senegal: clashes between police and students in Dakar  The clashes of this March 29 recall those of 2021 Clashes opposed Wednesday at the University of Dakar the police and students who were trying to participate in a demonstration banned by the authorities on the eve of the trial of opponent Ousmane Sonko.  Deployed massively around the university, the police sent tear gas towards the students confined inside the campus. The students retaliated with rocks, but were prevented from coming out.  An AFP journalist present with several colleagues before the start of the incidents was punched behind the head by a policeman who had ordered the journalists to leave, accusing them of filming, which none were doing at the time there, reported the journalists present.  The AFP journalist was then apprehended and forcibly taken into a police van, despite attempts by his colleagues to intercede on his behalf, they said. The policeman threw a tear gas canister at their feet to keep them away.  Inside the van, the AFP journalist received several punches in the upper body and behind the head from a police officer, he said later. He was released moments later.  "AFP strongly protests against this brutality exercised for no reason against one of its journalists who was doing his job," said the agency's news director, Phil Chetwynd.  This brutality "casts doubt on the repeated assurances of the Senegalese authorities as to the free exercise of the profession and raises serious questions about the safety of journalists in the pre-election period" , he added.  The opposition to President Macky Sall announced marches and demonstrations in Dakar and across the country on Wednesday, Thursday and Monday. The opponent Ousmane Sonko must appear Thursday in Dakar for defamation against a minister.  Authorities have banned many of the rallies scheduled for Wednesday and Thursday, but the main opposition coalition has said it intends to defy the ban.  As they prepared to make a statement on an important axis of the capital on Wednesday, the leaders of the Yewwi Askan wi (YAW, Let's Free the People in Wolof) coalition were dispersed with tear gas by the gendarmerie, according to images seen by AFP.  Tensions have considerably slowed down activities in the capital. School and university holidays have been brought forward. Public transport suspended its lines on Wednesday. Banks announced to close earlier.  Mr. Sonko and his supporters accuse the government of using justice to prevent him from running for president in February 2024. The presidential party accuses Mr. Sonko of wanting to paralyze the country and of using the streets to escape Justice.  Several human rights organizations have expressed their concern at the climate of tension reigning in the country, the restrictions on freedom of assembly and expression, and have called on President Sall to give up a third term, he who leaves doubt about a candidacy in 2024.        India presents its production of military equipment to Africa India's Prachand light combat helicopter flies over a bird during the inauguration of Aero India 2023 at Yelahanka base in Bengaluru, India on February 13, 2023  India on Wednesday presented locally produced helicopters, drones and artillery to the chiefs of staff and authorities of 31 African countries, the South Asian giant and the world's largest arms importer aims to to become a major exporter.  India has injected billions into the defense sector in order to become less dependent on imports, notably from Russia, and to strengthen the border it shares with China and which the two powers dispute.  But it also strives to sell its made in India military equipment targeting, in particular, countries that cannot afford equipment designed in the West, which is much more expensive.  On Wednesday, the Indian army conducted a mock military operation involving commandos with drones, armored vehicles, helicopters and mine-clearing robots.  The operation took place in Pune (west), the main manufacturing center for military equipment in the country. It comes after nine days of joint military exercises with 23 African countries, including Ethiopia, Egypt, Kenya, Morocco, Nigeria, Rwanda and South Africa.  "We make affordable and reliable equipment," VG told AFP. Patankar, a retired Indian general, at the event on Wednesday.  In February, India inaugurated its largest helicopter manufacturing plant, months after unveiling its first homegrown aircraft carrier and testing a ballistic missile from its first made-in-India nuclear-powered submarine. .  The country hopes, in the coming years, to more than double its annual arms exports and earn some 5 billion dollars against about 1.7 billion dollars currently.  Less than 20% of its arms exports currently go to Africa, with customers including Egypt, Ethiopia, Mozambique, Mauritius and the Seychelles, officials told AFP. on condition of anonymity.  The director of the Society of Indian Defense Manufacturers, SP. Shukla, told AFP that Indian trade proposals to Africa focus on equipment of a "defensive" nature, such as armored vehicles, radars and telecommunications equipment.


The clashes of this March 29 recall those of 2021
Clashes opposed Wednesday at the University of Dakar the police and students who were trying to participate in a demonstration banned by the authorities on the eve of the trial of opponent Ousmane Sonko.

Deployed massively around the university, the police sent tear gas towards the students confined inside the campus. The students retaliated with rocks, but were prevented from coming out.

An AFP journalist present with several colleagues before the start of the incidents was punched behind the head by a policeman who had ordered the journalists to leave, accusing them of filming, which none were doing at the time there, reported the journalists present.

The AFP journalist was then apprehended and forcibly taken into a police van, despite attempts by his colleagues to intercede on his behalf, they said. The policeman threw a tear gas canister at their feet to keep them away.

Inside the van, the AFP journalist received several punches in the upper body and behind the head from a police officer, he said later. He was released moments later.

"AFP strongly protests against this brutality exercised for no reason against one of its journalists who was doing his job," said the agency's news director, Phil Chetwynd.

This brutality "casts doubt on the repeated assurances of the Senegalese authorities as to the free exercise of the profession and raises serious questions about the safety of journalists in the pre-election period" , he added.

The opposition to President Macky Sall announced marches and demonstrations in Dakar and across the country on Wednesday, Thursday and Monday. The opponent Ousmane Sonko must appear Thursday in Dakar for defamation against a minister.

Authorities have banned many of the rallies scheduled for Wednesday and Thursday, but the main opposition coalition has said it intends to defy the ban.

As they prepared to make a statement on an important axis of the capital on Wednesday, the leaders of the Yewwi Askan wi (YAW, Let's Free the People in Wolof) coalition were dispersed with tear gas by the gendarmerie, according to images seen by AFP.

Tensions have considerably slowed down activities in the capital. School and university holidays have been brought forward. Public transport suspended its lines on Wednesday. Banks announced to close earlier.

Mr. Sonko and his supporters accuse the government of using justice to prevent him from running for president in February 2024. The presidential party accuses Mr. Sonko of wanting to paralyze the country and of using the streets to escape Justice.

Several human rights organizations have expressed their concern at the climate of tension reigning in the country, the restrictions on freedom of assembly and expression, and have called on President Sall to give up a third term, he who leaves doubt about a candidacy in 2024.

India presents its production of military equipment to Africa

India's Prachand light combat helicopter flies over a bird during the inauguration of Aero India 2023 at Yelahanka base in Bengaluru, India on February 13, 2023

India on Wednesday presented locally produced helicopters, drones and artillery to the chiefs of staff and authorities of 31 African countries, the South Asian giant and the world's largest arms importer aims to to become a major exporter.

India has injected billions into the defense sector in order to become less dependent on imports, notably from Russia, and to strengthen the border it shares with China and which the two powers dispute.

But it also strives to sell its made in India military equipment targeting, in particular, countries that cannot afford equipment designed in the West, which is much more expensive.

On Wednesday, the Indian army conducted a mock military operation involving commandos with drones, armored vehicles, helicopters and mine-clearing robots.

The operation took place in Pune (west), the main manufacturing center for military equipment in the country. It comes after nine days of joint military exercises with 23 African countries, including Ethiopia, Egypt, Kenya, Morocco, Nigeria, Rwanda and South Africa.

"We make affordable and reliable equipment," VG told AFP. Patankar, a retired Indian general, at the event on Wednesday.

In February, India inaugurated its largest helicopter manufacturing plant, months after unveiling its first homegrown aircraft carrier and testing a ballistic missile from its first made-in-India nuclear-powered submarine. .

The country hopes, in the coming years, to more than double its annual arms exports and earn some 5 billion dollars against about 1.7 billion dollars currently.

Less than 20% of its arms exports currently go to Africa, with customers including Egypt, Ethiopia, Mozambique, Mauritius and the Seychelles, officials told AFP. on condition of anonymity.

The director of the Society of Indian Defense Manufacturers, SP. Shukla, told AFP that Indian trade proposals to Africa focus on equipment of a "defensive" nature, such as armored vehicles, radars and telecommunications equipment.

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