URGENT Message to Resident Diplomatic Representatives in Senegal from Pape Ale Niang

 Dakar Matin - 29/03/2023

 

Dear diplomats, 

You pride yourself on being « friends of Senegal ». For a long time you have observed Senegal going straight towards chaos. So much has it become fertile ground for non-respect of the basic rights of democracy, of human rights. 

Fundamental freedoms are flouted in full view of everyone. From now on it is the dictatorial forfeiture in broad daylight without restraint and without shame. 

You know it and you see it every day. 

• Do you consider normal the conditions under which the leader of Pastef was brought to court by manu-militari? 
• Do you consider it normal that Sonko is sequestered in his home without any court decision or legal basis. 

The Senegalese live this dictatorial forfeiture in a stoic way and intend to fight to put an end to it. At the same time our « dear friends » take pleasure in a culpable and complicit silence. 

You can perfectly use your empty diplomatic formulas like « We are paying particular attention to the worrying political situation in Senegal ». But radio silence. 

Obviously the strategy of distilled terror seems to have reached you

#papealeniang
#dakarmatin
#ambassadefrance
#USEmbassy
#ONU
#CPI
#RFI

Tony Blair Hands off Senegal! Stop Supporting Macky Sall’s Dictatorship! - Senegalese in UK prepare to demonstrate against Tony Blair's support for Macky Sall

 

Members of the Senegales Community in the UK, and their supporters are planning to demonstrate on Thursday 30 March outside the Tony Blair Institute for Global Change 50 Broadway, London SW1H 0BL. They will be calling for;  

Tony Blair Hands off Senegal!  Stop Supporting Macky Sall’s Dictatorship!

 On the 21^st March 2023, Tony Blair made his fourth visit to President Mack Sall of Senegal. This was done against the background of a rapidly deteriorating human rights situation in the country, outlined in a damming report from the US State department, which mentioned:

“Significant human rights issues included credible reports of: unlawful or arbitrary killings; torture or cruel, inhuman, or degrading treatment or punishment by or on behalf of the government; harsh and life-threatening prison conditions; arbitrary arrest or detention; political prisoners or detainees; serious problems with the independence of the judiciary; serious government corruption”

There is a presidential election scheduled for February 2024, and there is ongoing serious political tension and instability generated by the President Macky Sall’s refusal to rule himself out of running for a third term of office which is not permitted under Senegal’s constitution. There are on-going attempts use the judiciary to rule out all credible opposition candidates, mass arrests and detentions of opposition activists, politicians and journalists, and physical attacks and assassination attempts on opposition and trade union figures.

Samira Daoud, Amnesty International’s Regional Director for West and Central Africa, says:

“The Senegalese authorities are stepping up repression in the run-up to the 2024 presidential election by attacking human rights… including by restricting the rights to freedom of expression and peaceful assembly and freedom of the press, banning demonstrations organized by opposition parties, and failing to respect the rights to justice, transparency and truth of victims of the use of force,”

Enter Tony Blair

Why did Tony Blair decide to visit Senegalese President Macky Sall at this time to pledge support to the Presidents “Senegal Emergence” campaign by stating that he "intends to accompany the process of economic growth of Senegal on the road to emergence, through Tony Blair Institute for Global Change”?

Why was the last visit, on the 24th of March 2021, timed just days after the massacre of 14 anti-government protesters by government or pro-government forces?

Is Blair attracted to dictatorial regimes with, like Senegal, huge mineral, oil and gas reserves?

·         Blair is a man who many, including the late Desmond Tutu called for to be prosecuted for war crimes in Iraq.

·         Blair is a man who called corrupt Egyptian dictator Hosni Mubarak - ‘a force for good’.

·         Blair described president Ilham Aliyev of Azerbaijan as a leader with ‘a very positive and exciting vision for the future’, ignoring his record of massive corruption and reputation for torture, arbitrary arrests and harassment of journalists and non-governmental organizations.

·         Blair helped then president Nazarbayev of Kazakhistan to clean-up his image of corruption and human rights abuse and was paid a fee of $13 million.  ‘We could not have a better adviser,’ said one official.

It is Time for Blair to STOP! It is time for Macky Sall to GO!

Blair’s visit to Senegal and his statement is not appropriate as constitutionally Macky Sall will not be president this time next year.

It is outrageous to provide support to a president who is the main cause of instability through his refusal to rule out a third, illegal, candidacy, and to deliberately ignore the possibility of a change of regime.

It is political interference to prop up a very unpopular dictatorial president who is facing serious accusations of corruption, including financial support for France’s far-right Marine Le Pen.

We do not want a multi-millionaire with a track record of support for dictators interfering in the political affairs of our country. We do not need his “skills”, “influence” and “consultancy” in justifying war crimes and human rights violations.

 

The Senegalese people are demanding:

·         No third candidacy for Macky Sall – respect the constitution.

·         Organisation of free and fair elections with no exclusion of candidates

·         Free all the political prisoners and hold those responsible for human rights violations accountable.

·         No instrumentalization and political interference in the justice system

·         No interference from outside forces in our political process

We want

·         The right to choose the leaders of our choice.

·         The right to freedom of movement

·         The right to freedom of speech

·         The right to freedom from arbitrary arrest and killings

·         An end to endemic corruption

·         The control of our natural resources to be for the benefit of the Senegalese people

 

MACKY DEGAGE!

TONY BLAIR DEGAGE!

 

Freedom of Expression on Trial in Senegal as Rapper Nit Doff Set for Court Appearance

 By Gainako on March 27, 2023

 

By Team Gom Sa Bopa Media Team

One of Senegal’s most accomplished and outspoken Rapper who doubles up as a social justice advocate, Mr Mor Tallah Gueye popularly known by his stage name, “Nitt Doff” has been jailed in Dakar since mid-January 2023 for statements made on a Facebook Live video. Nit Doff’s trial is expected to continue tomorrow Tuesday 28^th March 2023 in a country currently facing civil and political unrest involving opposition Ousman Sonko.

As a civil society organisation focused on harnessing arts and culture our media team conducted this interview with one of Nit Doff’s colleagues to better understand the circumstances surrounding his arrest and continued detention. We also feature an update on the efforts of social justice movements in Senegal advocating for Nit Doff’s release.

Ms Mama Faye is a colleague of Nit Doff who has been working on his team for some years. She describes the outspoken rapper as “an artist (rapper) and an activist because he talks about many things that are important to the Senegalese people. Anytime injustice happens that he doesn’t agree with he puts his views in a song, posts on social media and does his livestream commentaries to connect directly with the people”.

“This is something he has been doing for a long time now, even in the past government and that is what he is still doing”.

Highlighting some of the challenges that follow his uncompromising stance Ms Faye says “Nit Doff is not afraid to lose opportunities because of his stance against injustice in Senegal. As for him, he says it as he sees it. His advocacy led to his annual “Show of the Year” which he has been doing for the past 12 years being cancelled. When his show was cancelled in 2022 it really frustrated him as an artist. He feels like all these actions are a form of injustice against him and an attempt to silence him”.

Asked to provide some more details on why Nit Doff was arrested and if he has been charged, Ms Faye recalls that “he did a Facebook live as usual and later published another video apologizing for anything offensive which he may have said”. Soon “after that, on the 18th of January 2023, he was arrested in his house because of the first live video. He was then taken to the Central Police in Dakar where he was kept for a while. He was taken to court twice and eventually transferred to the main Prison where he currently remains”.

On the activities of Social Justice movements in Senegal Ms Faye revealed that “his close friends and colleagues in the hip hop industry, activists and other political personalities are all supporting him. We have done press conferences, we have demonstrated, we have done sittings and some people have even been arrested and we still report all this in our press conferences”.

“We have also demonstrated in Dakar, and the people of Louga his hometown are also planning on doing their own demonstration. The hip-hop community in Senegal have been visiting him too and every time we go there, he remains in high spirits,” said the advocate.

Our reporter concluded by asking if she believed his arrest was in line with the law and to comment on the public reaction to his arrest. In response, Ms Faye believes that “nobody is happy about his arrest because Nit Doff is someone who has empathy for people, someone who has a good relationship with people. He is an advocate against injustice, even if it’s done to someone who he doesn’t know he is always ready to advocate against injustice. Right now, we should be working on projects and his tours but he has been there since January”.

Team Gom Sa Bopa takes this opportunity to remind the government of Senegal of the “Declaration of Principles on Freedom of Expression in Africa, African Commission on Human and People’s Rights” approved by the African Commission at the 32^nd session on 17^th to 23^rd October 2022 in Banjul The Gambia.

Section II of the Declaration focuses on “Interference with Freedom of Expression” and notes that “no one shall be subject to arbitrary interference with his or her freedom of expression” and “any restrictions on freedom of expression shall be provided by law, serve a legitimate interest and be necessary and in a democratic society”.

Senegal: opposition coalition Yewwi Askan Wi announces new series of mobilisations

 From RFI 24/03/2023 

 

A march in Dakar on Wednesday 29 March, on the eve of the trial of Ousmane Sonko for defamation against the Minister of Tourism. Demonstrations "in the 46 departments of the country" on Thursday 30 March, and mobilisations on 3 April, before the bank holidays. This is the plan of action announced Friday 24 March by the leaders of Yewwi Askan Wi, opposition coalition, in the absence of Ousmane Sonko.

"The ultimate goal", according to Déthié Fall, one of the leaders of the coalition, "is the departure of President Macky Sall on 25 February 2024, and the participation of all candidates" in the election.

Yewwi Askan Wi also denounces "arbitrary" arrests after the clashes that occurred last week, in connection with the trial of Ousmane Sonko. This is the case of El Malick Ndiaye, head of communication of the party Pastef, for "dissemination of false news" according to his lawyer and Dr. Babacar Niang, owner of the clinic where Ousmane Sonko was hospitalized for five days.

Creation of a platform
In this arm wrestling, the government is also determined. In the Council of Ministers this week, President Macky Sall called for "measures to ensure the absolute security of people and property", citing "the imperative of preserving democratic gains and public order".

At the same time, some sixty political organisations from the opposition and civil society announced the creation of a platform "for the defence of democratic gains", and against a candidacy of the Head of State for a third term.

Gambia Government Official's concerns on the situation in Senegal

 Statement provided to OPEN GAMBIA 22/03/2023 on condition of annonimity:

The term of the presidency in Senegal changed and not the term limit. It matters not if the term is 5 or 7 years. The term limit remains at a maximum of 2. The Senegalese constitution states that no one can serve more than two consecutive terms. President Sall has confirmed this in his book and speech. We have to stop intellectual dishonesty because it ends up being unintelligent and an insult to the intelligence of Senegalese and Africans. 

 

President Sall just finished his term as the AU chairperson. He was at the forefront of the fight to liberate Gambians post-2016 elections. Was he fighting for Gambians or to ensure a legacy of peace in cassamance? I do not want to sound ungrateful, but his principles and conviction displayed for all to see today are a far cry from those expressed in 2016 and 2017. 

 

What has changed, I ask? 

 

This is the president we all celebrated when his motorcade majestically rolled into The Independence Stadium for the swearing-in ceremony of President Adama Barrow. He even gave a speech on occasion. This is unprecedented. He provided sanctuary for President Adama Barrow to avoid potential elimination by Jammeh and his rogues. Provided sanctuary for Gambians fleeing during the impasse. 

 

President Sall was the poster boy for Democracy in West Africa, and I can even push it further to say, Africa? What changed? Petrol and Gas? 

 

Let’s now revisit all contracts signed with Senegal. We have lost the reexport trade to Senegal. Senegal underwrites our security. Millions of Dollars are paid to Senelec for electricity, paralysing our ability to invest in infrastructural development for an adequate power supply. 

 

These questions should be explored because the man we thought he was is no more. I hate to sound ungrateful, but let’s start to ask the right questions, and the government of the Gambia focus on weaning us from being Senegal's cash cow. I am all in for the bilateral cooperation; however, the ducks are not lining up. 

 

The images from Senegal are all too painful to watch. Seeing your neighbours slide into a dictatorship and the associated brute force is gut-wrenching. We had our fair share, and the wounds have still not healed. 

 

Johnson Salef and President Buhari, two of the trio involved and fighting for Gambians, have democratically handed over the baton ( Nigeria has a president-elect). We expect the same from President Sall. We want to be able to beat our chests and say despite the recent spate of coup d’etat Africa is still registering democratic gains. It’s still not late, and I pray that President Sall can mend the state of affairs through dialogue and respect for human rights.

 

When Senegal sneezes, we catch a cold. This is very much ours as it is theirs.

I hope the new security adviser will fast-track our security sector reform. I pray for peace in Senegal and Africa.

Article contributed by ANON GAMBIA GOVERNMENT OFFICIAL