Senegalese football stars call for an end to violence in the country

"Too much blood has already been shed in the last two years. It is essential that all the nation's stakeholders immediately unite their efforts to restore peace," wrote Sadio Mané, striker and top scorer for the "Lions", the national team's nickname, in the Instagram. Mané called for the "preservation" of youth (in Senegal).

Abdou Diallo, defender of Leipzig, lamented on Twitter that "blood is flowing freely and the situation is deteriorating" in the country. He appealed to "those who can resolve the situation" to do so "as quickly as possible", because "there are lives at stake".

A similar appeal was made by striker Famara Diedhiou, from Granada, a club from the Spanish second division promoted this year to La Liga.

Sonko, a radical opponent of President Macky Sall, was sentenced by a Dakar criminal court to two years in prison for "mocking" a young woman under 21 years old.