The Senegalese authorities have suspended the signal of two private television stations after accusing them of focusing too much on protests triggered by the arrest of an opposition leader, Ousmane Sonko.

The two stations affected by the decision by the National Audiovisual Regulatory Council (CNRA) are Sen TV and Walf TV channels. 

The channel were accused of broadcasting images of the unrest “in loop” after Mr Sonko’s arrest, the AFP news agency reported.

Earlier, police clashed with supporters of Mr Sonko in Bignona town in the southern Casamance region on Thursday.

The government confirmed that one person was killed in the violence on Thursday, which followed Mr Sonko’s arrest in Dakar a day earlier.

Mr Sonko has been accused of raping a woman at a salon where he went to get massages, which he denies.

He has described the case as politically motivated and an attempt by President Macky Sall’s allies to ensure he can’t run in the next election.

Some opposition leaders were excluded from contesting 2019 elections for legal reasons – and Mr Sonko says he is the latest in this pattern.

Last week, Senegal’s parliament voted to strip Mr Sonko’s immunity so the rape trial could proceed.

Some opposition leaders were ruled out of running in the 2019 elections for legal reasons – and Mr Sonko says he is the latest in this pattern.