Conflicts between youths and police in Senegal have reportedly left three people dead on Friday 17 June in Dakar in a context of pre-election violence. This is not yet confirmed by the authorities. This follows the Senegalese authorities’ ban on opposition forces from demonstrating.
Traditionally considered one of the most stable countries in Africa, could Senegal be sliding into a cycle of deadly violence? This is the question that deserves to be asked in the face of the political impasse that is undermining the Senegalese exception.
Indeed, different areas of Dakar were the scene of confrontations between young people throwing stones and the police who held them at bay with tear gas or dispersed them with sound grenades in the smoke of burning tyres on Friday 17 June. Thus, the political situation is very tense in the land of teranga as the Senegalese are preparing to renew the members of their parliament on 31 July. The main opposition coalition is challenging the rejection of its national list led by Ousmane Sonko for the said legislative elections.
“We want, as Senegalese citizens, to tell the President of the Republic that there is no question of choosing his opponents since the political field is free and accessible to all those who want it. If he continues to block the road to the lists of Yewwi Askan Wi and other lists, the Senegalese will come out in the street to demonstrate,” said a demonstrator.
Opposition leaders arrested
At the same time, near the home of Ousmane Sonko, a large security detail was deployed. The opponent’s home was thus surrounded by security forces, preventing him from going to demonstrate but also from going to the mosque to pray. “Even our freedom of worship is being violated today. The police told me that they have been ordered not to let me go out,” said Mr Sonko, traditionally dressed for the prayer, after running into a police roadblock.
According to Sonko’s party, the mayor of Dakar, Barthélémy Dias, another opponent of Senegalese President Macky Sall, was also blocked at his home by the police, while three other opposition figures, namely Déthié Fall, Ahmet Aidara and Mame Diarra Fame, were arrested. According to their lawyers, these figures are in custody for “calling for and participating in a prohibited demonstration” or “provoking an assembly”.
Three deaths in Friday’s demonstrations
There were scattered clashes and rallies in the capital. In Colobane, where the exchange of stones against tear gas lasted most of the day. And then in Ziguinchor, the capital of Casamance (south) where Ousmane Sonko is the mayor. According to the Senegalese Red Cross, at least one person died in these demonstrations. A teenager died and was burnt in the fire of a gargote in the district of Colobane. In addition, in Casamance, the opposition mentions two deaths, one in Zinguinchor, the other in the town of Bignona.
Apart from the rejection of the opposition’s list for the legislative elections, the demonstrators accuse President Macky Sall of wanting to run for a third term in 2024. “We don’t want a third mandate, but that’s their intention. Why don’t they let us demonstrate? It is our right! It’s so unfair,” said one of the demonstrators.
They are also protesting against the high cost of living, in the context of the war in Ukraine, where prices have been soaring for months on the market. “We are tired! Everything is expensive”, women declare in chorus.
In his statement on Friday evening, Ousmane Sonko promised that “these more crimes will not go unpunished”.
It should be recalled that in March 2021, deadly riots left more than ten people dead in the country.
