the authorities ban a march against the postponement of the presidential election and suspend the internet on mobiles

The UN says “deeply concerned” by the situation. The Senegalese authorities have banned a large march planned by civil society on Tuesday February 13 in Dakar against the last minute postponement of the presidential election and the extension of the mandate of the head of state.

Internet on mobiles has also been suspended “due to the dissemination on social networks of several subversive hate messages which have already provoked violent demonstrations”according to the Ministry of Communication, Telecommunications and Digital.

“Constitutional coup”

The new collective Aar Sunu Election (“Let’s protect our election”), which includes several dozen trade union organizations and citizen and religious groups, called on the Senegalese to gather massively for a silent march from 3 p.m. (local time) in a district close to the center of the capital. But the prefecture banned the demonstration because it “risks serious disruption” traffic, according to an official letter published on social networks.

Senegal is in the grip of one of its most serious political crises in recent decades since President 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 Sall in his post until his successor takes office, a priori so early 2025.

This change in extremis, exceptional in a country praised for its stability and democratic practices, provoked cries of “constitutional coup”. The opposition suspects the presidential camp of making arrangements with the calendar because it is sure of the defeat of its candidate, Prime Minister Amadou Ba, designated by Macky Sall to succeed him.