In a joint statement dated February 11 and sent to Le
Figaro
this Monday, the two former presidents of Senegal Abdou Diouf and Abdoulaye Wade call on Senegalese youth
“to immediately stop the violence and destruction of property”
, while ensuring they understand their
“frustrations »
and
“dismay”
.
The two former presidents also claim to have spoken with current president Macky Sall.
The latter would have
“reaffirmed his commitment (...) not to run for a third term and to leave power immediately after the presidential election.”
In fact, Abdou Diouf and Adboulaye Wade call on all Senegalese political leaders
“in power and in the opposition”
to make the presidential election of December 15, 2024
“transparent, inclusive and indisputable”
.
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Deep crisis
Senegal has been in the grip of widespread protests since President Macky Sall announced the postponement of the presidential election on February 3, three weeks before the deadline.
His supporters in the National Assembly and those of Karim Wade, a disqualified candidate, then endorsed the postponement of the election to December 15 and the maintenance of President Macky Sall in his post until his successor takes office, a priori therefore at the beginning of 2025.
This last minute change, exceptional in a country praised for its stability and democratic practices, raised cries of a
“constitutional coup d’état”
.
The opposition suspects the presidential camp of making arrangements with the timetable because it is sure of the defeat of its candidate, Prime Minister Amadou Ba, designated by Mr. Sall to succeed him.
She suspects a maneuver so that President Sall, whose mandate officially expired on April 2, remains in power, even if he repeats that he will not run again.
Friday February 9, the entire country was shaken by a large-scale protest, which was repressed by the security forces.
They dispersed the slightest gathering by firing tear gas.
A 16-year-old high school student was killed while demonstrating in southern Senegal, bringing to three the number of deaths in the country since the start of the protests.
New march planned
The Aar Sunu Election collective (
“Let’s protect our election”
), which includes around forty citizen and religious groups and professional organizations, called for a march Tuesday afternoon in Dakar.
Many politicians have expressed their intention to be at this demonstration which promises to be a crucial meeting.
Authorities have given no sign so far of authorizing Tuesday's march.
In addition, Senegal's eight public universities began a two-day strike on Monday, widely followed by teachers, to protest the death of a student in the context of Friday's unrest in Saint-Louis.
In a video posted on social networks, academics
“demand the immediate restoration of the electoral calendar”
and respect for human rights.