Senegal currently finds itself at a crossroads, facing escalating tensions following the postponement of general elections scheduled for just three weeks. This West African country, once praised for its political stability, is now plunged into a worrying situation. The announcement of the postponement of the vote sparked real anger in the country, with angry young people burning tires in the streets to protest.
Outgoing President Macky Sall, whose second term ends in April, announced on Saturday that the elections would not be held as planned, citing disputes over the final list of presidential candidates that excluded dozens of aspirants from the opposition. The move has angered opponents, who see it as an attempt by Sall to extend his mandate, and has reignited fears of violent protests like those last year, sparked by rumors that he planned to stand down. present again.
According to experts, these unexpected events not only call into question Senegal’s role as a regional anchor, but also raise concerns about potential repercussions in other regions of West Africa, which have seen many military coups in recent years.
Senegal remains a special case as the only country in continental West Africa that has never experienced a military coup. Dakar-based analysts say that although a military overthrow is highly unlikely in Senegal, recent events amount to an illegal power grab. Changing the law on the eve of an election and allowing a sitting president to remain in power beyond the end of his term amounts to a constitutional coup.
The situation in Senegal is closely monitored by France, the country’s former colonizer, with which it maintains very close ties. France does not want to see democracy in Senegal deteriorate, because the country is a model of stability in West Africa and an important partner for France.
Heightened tensions since the postponement was announced have placed the capital Dakar on alert, with protests erupting on Sunday and Monday. The government cut off mobile internet services, citing the need to stop the spread of hateful and subversive messages on social media amid threats of public order disturbances. Clashes between police and protesters led to the use of tear gas to disperse crowds, and schools and businesses were closed in parts of the country.
The NGO Amnesty International denounced the restrictions on Internet access and the suspension of broadcasting by the private television channel Walf TV as a “blatant attack on the right to freedom of expression and freedom of the press” , calling on the Senegalese authorities to respect and protect the right to freedom of peaceful assembly and to avoid the excessive use of force during demonstrations.
President Sall’s decision to postpone the elections was due to disputes over the final list of candidates, which notably excluded several popular and prominent opponents. This exclusion has sparked accusations of injustice. President Sall, who has already denied rumors that he was considering running again, said he wanted to organize a national discussion to establish clear and fair rules for the next elections. He expressed concerns about how the list of candidates was compiled and said he pushed back the vote to allow for an investigation into the candidates’ endorsement.
It is clear that democracy is currently at stake in Senegal, and the coming days will be decisive in determining the country’s political future. Stability and peace in this region of West Africa depend on the outcome of this crisis.