(Dakar) A fight between deputies broke out Thursday in the Senegalese Parliament after controversial remarks by an elected official about a religious leader who is a member of the opposition, according to images authenticated by AFP.
An opposition deputy first slapped this parliamentarian, Amy Ndiaye, who retaliated by throwing a chair at her, before falling to the ground and being rescued by her supporters, according to images broadcast on several television channels and social networks.
Parliamentarians then exchanged punches in the crush.
This scene, which immediately made the rounds of the media and social networks, took place during the vote on the budget of the Ministry of Justice for 2023.
Tension has increased in recent days in the National Assembly following controversial remarks made on November 27 by a government deputy on a Muslim religious leader, member of the opposition coalition, Serigne Moustapha Sy, who is not a deputy but is very influential in Senegal.
Mme Ndiaye is accused by the opposition of having disrespected this marabout during an intervention in the Assembly, accusing him in particular of not keeping his word and of disrespecting President Macky Sall, according to comments broadcast by the media.
Thursday’s session was interrupted after the incident, an official from the National Assembly told AFP.
“We will no longer accept that the sessions continue as long as this lady continues to be present (in the Assembly) and as long as she has not presented her apologies,” said opposition MP Abba Mbaye. on opposition television.
MPs from the ruling coalition and feminist activists for their part protested against the opposition MP’s use of violence, especially during the annual international campaign “16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence”. against women and girls”, supported by the UN.
The presidential camp lost the absolute majority it held after the July legislative elections which gave the Assembly a virtual balance of power in a tense political context.
President Macky Sall, elected in 2012 for seven years and re-elected in 2019 for five years, remains silent on his intentions for the 2024 presidential election.