Boiling Over

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Senegal ordered the temporary closure of some of its consulates abroad following attacks on its diplomatic missions this week, a move that came less than a week after the West African nation was hit with its worst unrest in decades, Reuters reported.

The foreign affairs ministry announced the shutting of consulates in Milan, Paris, and New York among others over recent attacks.

Italian media reported that dozens of people protested outside the Senegalese consulate in Milan, holding flags and anti-government signs. They later broke into the consulate, attacked the consul general, and ransacked the premises.

The consulate incidents followed deadly demonstrations in Senegal last week that left at least 16 people dead and hundreds injured. Many businesses and buildings were also looted and destroyed.

The foreign affairs ministry did not say if the diplomatic mission attacks were related to the clashes in Senegal.

The violence came after a court sentenced opposition leader Ousmane Sonko to two years in prison on charges of “corrupting youth,” as accusations involved a woman who was 20 years old at the time.

Sonko was acquitted of rape charges, but the ruling could bar the popular politician from running in next year’s presidential elections.

He has criticized the judgment as politically motivated, while his party has urged supporters and Senegal’s diaspora abroad to protest against the government of President Macky Sall.