In Senegal’s capital, some calm seems to have returned after clashes on Thursday between supporters of the opposition leader Ousmane Sonko and law enforcement personnel.

Sonko was summoned by the court in the case of defamation against the Minister of Tourism Mame Mbaye Niang.

The trial was however postponed to March 30 for further hearing.

In a statement issued last night, Pastef, the party of Ousmane Sonko, said that his health is worrying, hence the reason for his inability to appear at the hearing.

According to Sonko, he allegedly inhaled tear gas fired by the police to disperse his supporters, who came out in large numbers to accompany him to court.

Still in Senegal, the convention of young reporters denounced an attack on press freedom following attacks on journalists on the eve of the summons of the opposition leader Sonko.

The group claimed that Journalists who were present near the Sonko’s home, which was surrounded by law enforcement officers, were shot at with tear gas by the police.

It alleged that some journalists were injured and others were reportedly detained by the police and then released.