Senegalese MPs detained for assaulting pregnant lawmaker

The battle has worsened political tensions in Senegal that flared when the governing celebration misplaced its comfy majority in July.

Senegal authorities on Thursday detained two opposition members of parliament for bodily assaulting a pregnant colleague throughout a finances debate earlier this month, their lawyer mentioned.

A violent brawl broke out within the Nationwide Meeting on December 1 when Massata Samb slapped Amy Ndiaye Gniby of the ruling Benno Bokk Yakaar coalition after she scoffed whereas he was addressing the room.

Gniby, who’s pregnant, threw a chair again at Samb earlier than one other opposition member of parliament, Mamadou Niang, kicked her within the abdomen after she was pushed to the bottom.

Each Samb and Niang had been detained and charged with voluntarily inflicting damage, their lawyer Adama Fall instructed reporters.

They’ll seem in courtroom on Monday, he mentioned, including that their detention violated their proper to parliamentary immunity.

The battle has worsened political tensions in Senegal that flared when the governing celebration misplaced its comfy majority in a July legislative election.

The defeat has been linked to considerations President Macky Sall will search a 3rd time period in 2024, a transfer the opposition says can be in breach of time period limits and an earlier promise.

Sall, 60, has refused to state clearly whether or not he plans to run once more.

Samb walked over and slapped Gniby within the midst of an deal with to parliament, throughout which he raised important remarks she made days earlier a few non secular chief against a 3rd Sall time period.

Gniby derided his remarks and declared she didn’t care, after which Samb walked over and hit her within the face.