Senegal is immersed in a political crisis The postponement of the elections planned to be held on February 25 and the opposition’s “corporate coup“. protests They took to the streets in many parts of the country. More and more countries and institutions within and outside the African continent are to worry The situation of Senegal while calling for its immediate re-establishment history So that Senegalese people can go to the polls. That same Tuesday, a large demonstration was planned in the capital Dakar, but the Government banned it due to the “risk of seriously disrupting” traffic.
The keys to the political turmoil shaking this West African country are:
election postponement
President on Saturday, February 3 Macky Sal He appeared on television to announce the postponement of elections scheduled for the end of the month indefinite. A message that almost coincides with what was supposed to be the start of the campaign. Sal repeated this I didn’t think to reintroduce myselfAs he explained before, he explained the reason for the decision to postpone the elections. irregularities It was learned that some political groups took action against the Constitutional Council, the body responsible for examining and approving all nominations. “I will launch an open national dialogue to create the conditions for free, transparent and inclusive elections,” Sall said.
This announcement prompted the opposition to condemn what they described as an “institutional coup”. and a maneuver by the president to gain time at the head of the country. This was the trigger for a wave of protests and accusations against the country’s president, but it was not the first time this was pointed out in protests. In the past, political tension had already built up among the political class due to the possibility that Sall might decide to run for a third term; It had ruled out the possibility at the beginning of July after months of uncertainty.
political crisis
The current president’s term ends April 2; Polls are not expected to determine who will replace him as president of the Republic of Senegal on this date. On Monday, February 5, Parliament In a controversial session, it was decided to postpone the elections to mid-December, thus extending Sall’s term in office. The plenary session, which left an unusual appearance: police He entered the room to dismiss many opposition MPs who opposed this decision and wanted to prevent the vote from being held.
On the same day, the country’s authorities cut off the internet Internet They also banned the circulation of motorcycles in Dakar during the day. They stopped broadcasting on private televisionWalf TV, which broadcast the protests that took place during the Lower House meeting.
Rejected candidates
Approval of candidates to be elected by the Parliament Constitutional Council He was surrounded by controversy. Only 20 out of 93 candidates could pass this organization’s filter. One of those left out of the presidential race Karim WadeHe is the son of the former president of Abdoulaye Wade and one of the important figures in the political scene. According to the Constitutional Council, dual nationality and did not give up his French passport in time. The country’s Constitution states that candidates can only hold Senegalese citizenship.
This politician and his party requested an investigation from the Parliament to clarify how candidate lists were prepared. Wade was one of the accusers “corruption” He had applied to this board and stated at that time that he wanted the elections to be postponed in order to “resolve serious deficiencies in our election system”.
destructive opposition
Another big name in Senegalese politics whose candidacy was rejected was Ousmane SonkoHe has been in prison since last summer in various open criminal proceedings and on charges such as “corrupting the youth” or inciting protests in Dakar last June. Her conviction and imprisonmentNearly 50 people died in demonstrations that sparked a wave of violent protests last summer.
Sonko is one of the politicians who left his mark on the political environment before and after with his disturbing speech and attitude. anti-colonial This is a far cry from what the public is used to hearing from political elites. His party was one of the biggest critics of the postponement of the election and said that the alternative candidate they chose for the election was Doumaye Fayehad a chance to win.
Anger in the streets and police repression
Raising and waving the Senegalese tricolor flag and shouting “Macky Sall dictator”Thousands of people have taken to the streets since the president announced the postponement of the elections. While the unrest increased, the intense intervention of the police also increased the incidents. oppression of protests with tear gas.
Three young people lost their lives during the demonstrations last weekend. one St LouisA 22 year old student. someone else DakarOne-third of 23-year-olds and 19-year-olds Ziguinchor, a town in the south of the country. Regarding the latter’s death, a person in charge of a hospital in the city told AFP that “a bullet hit his head and he died in intensive care due to his injuries.”
international concern
Voices were raised inside and outside the continent demanding a resolution to the political deadlock. Organizations like this African Union They expressed their concerns and demanded that the new election date be determined as soon as possible. HE Council of the European UnionIn his statement a few days ago, he stated, “There is a risk that this decision will come true.” tarnishing Senegal’s long democratic tradition This country plays a key role in the migration route to the Canary Islands. Previous political crises in Senegal were accompanied by an increase in the departures, especially of young people. They risk their lives to reach Europe because of the lack of prospects their country offers them.