Senegal's TikTok Ban Signals Growing Crackdown on Dissent

Senegal has blocked access to the social media app TikTok as part of a widening clampdown on dissent, following the dissolution of the main opposition party and the detention of its leader. The power struggle between opposition leader Ousmane Sonko and President Macky Sall has led to violent demonstrations, damaging Senegal's reputation as the most stable democracy in West Africa. The government justifies the ban by claiming that TikTok is used to spread "hateful and subversive messages." The move has sparked concerns about the impact on online sales and communication, as well as freedom of expression in the country.