Violent protests over lockdown curfews

Senegalese police have arrested more than 70 people after violent protests broke out in several cities with demonstrators demanding a night-time coronavirus curfew be lifted. In Touba, a religious hub 200km east of the capital Dakar, three police vehicles and an ambulance were torched and a coronavirus treatment centre was attacked. A report on the News24 site notes that witnesses said post office buildings in Touba – the seat of the politically powerful Sufi Muslim order called the Mouride Brotherhood – were attacked. The Council of Broadcasters and Press Publishers of Senegal said 'those responsible for this rampage must be tracked down and brought to justice'.

Full Fin24 report

Namibia's President Hage Geingob has admitted to breaching coronavirus regulations by hosting a celebration to mark his party's 60th anniversary last month. And he has fined each guest US$115. A report on the Nairobi News site notes that the function took place in Parliament on 19 April, after the country was under lockdown and group gatherings were banned to limit the spread of the virus. ‘Although we were as little as 10 leaders ... we were found not on the right side of the regulations and law. We had to admit guilt and we were punished,’ Geingob said.

Full Nairobi News report