Chaos erupted in the Senegalese parliament on Thursday after a male lawmaker hit a female colleague on the head in scenes that were televised live.
Parliamentary proceedings were disrupted during a budget presentation, after opposition member of parliament Massata Samb left the podium and walked over to Amy Ndiaye Gniby of the ruling Benno Bokk Yakaar coalition and hit her.
In retaliation, Ms Gniby threw a chair back at Mr Samb, before other MPs intervened, however the chaos did not stop as the lawmakers traded blows, leading to the suspension of the session.
Local media reports that Mr Samb reminded the house of remarks Ms Gniby had made earlier which he said were "discourteous".
Ms Gniby is then said to have replied from her seat that she "did not care".
Then, Mr Samb cut short his speech and rushed towards her.
Since a July legislative election where the ruling party lost its comfortable majority, there has been tension between the ruling and opposition politicians.
Latest Stories
-
Jack Daniel’s hits out at Canada pulling US alcohol
6 minutes -
Driver on bail over fraudulent land transaction
24 minutes -
Common vaginal ‘imbalance’ may be an STI
37 minutes -
Keynote speakers arrive in Paris for Women of Valour
3 hours -
Chelsea edge out Copenhagen to take control of last-16 tie
4 hours -
Zirkzee scores but Man United held by Real Sociedad
4 hours -
Neymar returns to Brazil squad after 17-month absence
4 hours -
‘Calm down, it’s not over’, Mourinho warns Rangers
4 hours -
It’s time to reset Ghana and private sector must lead the way – Ishmael Yamson
5 hours -
Prosecutors demand Luis Rubiales World Cup kiss retrial
5 hours -
Ghana won’t sink any further, investors must stay – Ishmael Yamson
5 hours -
Dr. Louisa Satekla pays courtesy call on Haruna Iddrisu to promote oral health education
5 hours -
Coastal Civil Society Forum engages tidal wave victims, calls for urgent gov’t action
6 hours -
ECB apologises for Pope Francis Ashes post joke
6 hours -
Denmark postal service to stop delivering letters
6 hours