Nine people have been killed in protests in Senegal following the jailing of opposition leader Ousmane Sonko.
According to Al Jazeera, Interior Minister Antoine Diome made the announcement on Friday on state TV.
"We have noted, with regret, violence that has led to the destruction of public and private property and, unfortunately, nine deaths in Dakar and Ziguinchor," Diome said.
On Thursday, Sonko was sentenced to two years in jail for "corrupting youth".
He was however acquitted of rape charges, allegations he said were a plot to stop him from contesting for top office in the February 2024 presidential elections.
In the rape case, he was accused of assaulting and threatening a massage therapist in 2021.
She was 20 at the time.
Denying the allegations, Sonko said he had gone to the beauty salon for a massage for chronic backache.
After the court ruling, his supporters, who are mostly unemployed youth took to the streets of Senegal's capital and set cars and buses on fire.
The protesters also threw rocks at the riot police prompting a response by firing tear gas.
There was also disturbance in Ziguinchor, where Sonko has been mayor since 2022.
According to Al Jazeera, the protesters are targeting the homes of ministers, petrol stations and foreign-owned supermarkets.
As the chaos went on, police were stationed at his home in Dakar, where Sonko said he is being held against his will.
The justice ministry said the 48-year-old politician could now be taken to prison at any time.
Sonko ran for the presidency in 2019 when he came in third.
He has accused President Macky Sall of planning to stay in office for an unconstitutional third term.
