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Thousands of people protested in Senegal’s capital against President Macky Sall’s moves toward a third term and his alleged crackdown on potential challengers for next year’s presidential elections, Africanews reported.

The demonstrations in Dakar on Friday were organized by a group called the “Movement of the living forces of Senegal F24,” made up of more than 170 political and human rights organizations. The group’s name refers to the scheduled election date of Feb. 24, 2024.

The protests are the latest against Sall, who has refused to rule out running for another presidential term after two stints in office – a move his opponents say would be unconstitutional.

Sall, however, has not confirmed his intention to run.

Demonstrators have also called on Sall to resign and demanded the release of more than 300 “political detainees.” Many also pledged support for opposition leader Ousmane Sonko, who was recently sentenced to a suspended prison term for defamation and insulting the tourism minister.

The ruling threatens Sonko’s candidacy in the upcoming elections. The politician and his supporters have decried the sentence as politically motivated.

Sall has faced accusations of using the judiciary to target potential challengers.

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