in Senegal, the anger of young people against Macky Sall after the postponement of the presidential election

The President of Senegal Macky Sall announced the postponement of the presidential election, which was to take place on February 25. Clashes broke out on Sunday afternoon in Dakar.

The shock can be seen on Ademossar’s face: in front of the hotel where he works, he has just received the alert on his phone announcing the postponement of the vote. “This is the first time in Senegal that we have witnessed this type of election postponement!”he exclaims. “Macky Sall has just betrayed: we want radical change, we no longer want ministers who embezzle billions, we want a more honest system!”

“If there are demonstrations, I will leave my job and go out, because my country needs young people. We are in a democratic country, and that must continue.”

Ademossar, young Senegalese

at franceinfo

It is a real political earthquake in Senegal. For the first time since 1963, and the election of Léopold Sédar Senghor, Senegal postpones the presidential election. The vote was to take place on February 25, but President Macky Sall spoke on Saturday February 3, a few hours before the official opening of the campaign, to announce the repeal of the decree on the convening of the electoral body.

A decision against a backdrop of controversy: several important candidates such as Karim Wade, the son of the former president, were dismissed by the Constitutional Council. MPs voted to open a parliamentary inquiry. A shock for those under 30, who represent 75% of the population of Senegal: they are massively demanding a radical change in policy and the departure of the government in power.

An “institutional coup” for the opposition

Mariam is also planning to go and demonstrate: this Senegalese woman, a sales agent, says she is very connected and very angry. “I’m disgusted! Young people went to school to learn and discover, and that’s a rude awakening”she declares. “We don’t have our say, and we are called youth. We don’t even have the words to express this anger and even this hatred towards this gentleman. What he must understand is what It’s the end, he’s lost. Sooner or later, he’s going to leave!”

This departure of the president is also what the Senegalese opposition is demanding. The campaign trucks and buses, which were to leave for the province, plan to converge on the center of Dakar. Souleymane Gueye is part of the executive secretariat of the Frapp-France Dégage movement (Front for a popular and pan-African anti-imperialist revolution): “It’s an institutional coup. Today, we are calling for unity, because it is a cold shower that has been administered to all Democrats.”

“This fight must start in the streets, so the entire opposition, all of civil society, everyone must mobilize to block this postponement!”

Souleymane Gueye, from the Frapp-France Dégage movement

at franceinfo

A mobilization which must be carried out calmly, specify most political leaders. Everyone wants to avoid an outbreak of violence, particularly in Casamance, where clashes last June between young people and the police left eight dead. But clashes broke out on Sunday afternoon in Dakar, with heavy tear gas fire from Senegalese gendarmes against several hundred demonstrators.