The family of 33-year-old Ousmane Doudou, who was killed during a spate of violent protests that erupted across Senegal, is demanding justice. Doudou was allegedly shot while he was in the hospital, after being injured during the protests that have rocked the country and resulted in the death of 16 people so far. Although it is unclear who shot Doudou, his family is determined to find out what happened and hold those responsible accountable.
Doudou’s parents, Ismaila and his wife, received a phone call on Friday informing them that their son had been shot and was in the hospital. Sadly, he died six hours later. Doudou, who was married with a 14-month-old baby, had two brothers and a sister. His family is devastated and wants answers.
The small fishing village of Bargny, where Doudou lived, has been hit hard by the protests. The village is located around 30 kilometers from the capital Dakar and was one of the sites targeted by angry protestors following the sentencing of opposition leader Ousmane Sonko. Sonko was sentenced to two years in prison on charges of “corrupting” a young woman, which the former tax inspector alleges were a conspiracy to halt his rising political career.
The government and opposition have blamed each other for the violent protests, which have also resulted in the destruction of property. According to several municipal officials, three people were killed in Bargny during the protests. However, Doudou’s family insists that he was not involved in the protests or politics.
“I hope that there will be justice, because there are things that cannot go unpunished,” said Ismaila, who is a retired teacher. Doudou’s parents are determined to find out what happened to their son, and they have vowed to seek justice for him.
“Losing a child is a terrible emotional shock. Either way, justice will be done, if it’s not in the hands of men, it will be in the afterlife,” said Ismaila.
Hundreds of relatives and neighbors gathered at a mosque near Doudou’s home for his funeral prayer. After paying their respects, the mourners silently carried his coffin to the cemetery, where he was laid to rest. The women of the family intend to visit his grave later.
The circumstances surrounding Doudou’s death remain unclear, but his family hopes that those who are responsible will be brought to justice. Senegal has been hit by protests before, but the recent violence has brought renewed attention to the country’s political and social issues.
