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Two Senegalese Lawmakers Jailed For Assaulting Pregnant Colleague

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Two members of the Senegalese parliament have been jailed for six months for assaulting their pregnant colleague during a parliamentary session.

Recall that on December 1, an opposition member of parliament, Massata Samb, walked over and slapped a member of the ruling Benno Bokk Yakaar (BBY) coalition, Amy Gniby, during a budget presentation.

Samb was addressing the assembly about comments Gniby made over the weekend, in which the latter criticized a spiritual leader opposed to a third term for President Macky Sall.

Gniby reportedly scoffed at the remarks and declared she did not care, after which Samb walked over and hit her, TV footage showed.

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He responded by throwing a chair at Samb, and in the brawl that followed, she fell to the ground and was also kicked in the abdomen by Amadou Niang, another member of the opposition.

The brawl escalated political tensions in Senegal that have gotten worse since the ruling party lost its majority in a July legislative election.

The development comes amid a proposed third term, but the president has refused to affirm if he will re-contest.

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In a ruling on Monday, a court in Senegal sentenced Niang and Samb to six months in jail.

The lawmakers were also ordered to pay a total of 5 million CFA francs (around $8,000) in compensation to Gniby.