The battle is more than between president Macky Sall and Ousmane Sonko - Open Gambia Editorial

 

 

 Open Gambia 18/05/2023 by Sulayman Ben Suwareh

 

President Sall seems to have miscalculated by overestimating the limited power of the incumbency under his control in a democratic dispensation.He underestimates the challenges he has to overcome to force a third-term mandate to entrench himself illegally in the democratic system that the people of Senegal are used to. Hence, he failed to learn from the history of liberation struggles and the fights against entrenched dictatorships.

 

It is most often the case that if leaders of the liberation movement organised themselves, winning the trust, and confidence, of the masses and in galvanising the power of the people, victory gets guaranteed against their adversaries

 

Herewith, it seems President Sall and the architects of his plan of entrenchment misjudged the opponent they were facing in their drive to circumvent the will of the people of Senegal. They forget that no power on the earth can control the will and govern a people successfully, however feeble, who withholds their consent. 

 

However, with arrogance, it appears that they base their assessment on assuming that the strength of controlling the power of the incumbency was enough to guarantee them victory.

 

 Additionally, they underestimated Ousmane Sonko and his Pastef party as an insignificant force that could be quickly side-lined by applying the state machinery against them. They underestimated the leadership and the group's solidarity, discipline, intelligence, and willingness to sacrifice for their nation, making them into  a formidable force. 

Hence, President Sall's administration got confronted with the reality of facing an unexpected opponent in the person of Ousmane Sonko and the PASTEF political party.

 

An unlikely force to reckon with that they have never encountered in the history of the Senegalese political landscape. Instead of just a political party, PASTEF became a liberation movement that emerged at a favourable time with a massive advantage to launch an anti-establishment movement.
With technology and the uncontrollable powers of social media, they have the leverage to become the competitive opponent against the Senegalese establishment political order. 

On the contrary, I know that Ousman Sonko is not a Saint; he’s human with faults, just like any individual.  History also teaches us that all great leaders have weaknesses. Nevertheless, what Sonko created, and not many African leaders have ever attained, is making a Pan-Africanist national anti-establishment.

He built a democratic movement from the grassroots, inclusive of the social spectrum of Senegal, in his drive to seek the power that challenges the national establishment of politicians with their imperialist patrons.

PASTEF, under Sonko, uses local Senegalese historical narratives without borrowing from any of the imperialist blocks' ideologies. But he crafted an authentic Senegalese social democratic, pragmatic development agenda to confront the status quo.

 

Henceforth, they created the most successful anti-establishment popular and credible democratic movement in modern times. This structure threatens to depose the old establishment politician in exchange for a modern Pan- Africanist Nationalist political party. 

 

He choreographed progressive agenda that would change the way his country did business with the imperialist nations threatening their strategic interest, especially of France. 

 

 PASTEF, as an anti-establishment party, has defied conventional wisdom by upstaging sub-Saharan Africa’s most established elite system of governance. This threatened to replace the establishment without using the armed struggle to win the battle or having their leaders come from the establishment parties. 

In addition, they are successfully surmounting the obstacles within the system and confronting the power of the incumbent. This advertently exposes Macky Sall’s weaknesses, forcing him to throw everything in his possession to battle them, albeit unsuccessfully.

On the other hand, I can't entirely agree with the people against the position taken by Ousmane Sonko for not attending the sham trial without the state guaranteeing his safety.

In the prevailing circumstances in Senegal, democracy and its political institutions are hijacked by the establishment bent on shamefully upending the wishes of the masses and not wanting to accord Sonko the respect he deserves. In such circumstances, anti-establishment forces must apply the conventional strategy to survive. Therefore, to demand Sonko drop his position means for him to move from his anti-establishment standpoint to join the mainstream politicians. 

This position will define the principles their movement stood for, making them potentially lose their support base. It should be recalled that the only reason Sonko/ Pastef got the support is their anti-establishment standpoint. That’s why whenever they get attacked, they become more popular with the youth and the grass root ordinary people.

The courts, in their contemporary setting, are not the solution, as it is evident that President Sall controls the judiciary. Thus, what is transpiring at the bench is not justice but machinery judiciary weaponising law to achieve a political witch-hunt.

PASTEF is aware that most oppositions or civil society leaders are part of the system that they are battling. The coalition was a temporal marriage of convenience, with different parties coming together to protect their short-term interests.

It is an open secret, and Pastef is aware that some opposition leaders are angling to take over the support base if they fail to put up Sonko as their candidate.

By observing Senegalese politics and the progress Pastef has made since they emerged on the political scene, I am confident that they have an extended strategic plan to battle beyond the elections of 2024 with the firm intention of deposing the establishment system. 

What is prevailing in Senegal is a battle between democratic and anti-democratic forces. It is a fight against corrupt establishment elites and a re-emerge of anti-establishment parties similar to prime minister Momodou Dia's generation.

Ultimately, if Senegalese allows President Macky and the mainstream corrupt elites to hijack the promising repositions of Senegalese democracy, they shall suffer the consequences.

Equally, the rest of Africa will lose the chance to experience a new approach to a democratic liberation struggle, especially in West African countries.

Crisis in Senegal - Déthié Fall: "Enough is enough, Macky Sall is the only one responsible for the situation we are living through"

 

 DAKARMATIN - Pierre Dieme 17 May 2023 

Déthié Fall: "Enough is enough".

"Macky Sall is the only one responsible for the situation we are living through". This is an accusation made by Déthié Fall, one of the members of the leadership of the main opposition coalition, Yewwi Askan Wi (YAW).


"The hour is gave and extremely serious," he said in a statement made on Wednesday, May 17, after the scuffles recorded on the sidelines of the hearing before the criminal chamber of the "Sweet beauty" case opposing the leader of PASTEF, Ousmane Sonko, to the former masseuse, Adji Sarr. The clashes between the security services and protesters in Ziguinchor and Dakar have resulted in at least three (3) deaths.

Surrounded by other leaders of YAW including Khalifa Sall and Biram Soulèye Diop, the president of the Republican Party for Progress (Prp) took the opportunity to present his condolences to the grieving families of those who lost their lives in the demonstrations. He also wished a speedy recovery to the forty or so injured in the southern capital o  Ziguinchor.

For  Déthié Fall, "it's a real pity that we have reached this situation, in a context of Senegal, which was once envied as an island of peace" and which was once respected as "an ocean of stability" which the "President Macky Sall should preserve".

But, asserts the  opposition party leader, "we tell him one thing, his plan to to remove candidates from contesting the presidential election, will not be allowed to pass. Enough is enough. We want peace but we also want our democracy to be preserved,  and its renewal in 2024 to be ensured . We will not accept that he eliminates President Ousmane Sonko as a candidate from the next elections.

Déthié Fall said: "President Macky Sall was with us in 2011 (fighting against a 3rd term of the previous president Wade). He saw how the people were mobilized for him to be the beneficiary of  electoral alternation in 2012. He saw what happened at the Place de l'Obélisque with all the dead (demonstrators killed by security services). We thought we would be done with that when he came to power."

He went on to warn "But today he is the one trampling on this democracy, this stability. He has a status that we recognize, that of President of the Republic, which will end in 2024. It is also up to him to respect the status of opposition leaders, that of Ousmane Sonko. Whether he likes it or not, he is a bearer of hope, of a project and deserves this respect. We say it here once again. The leadership of YAW is united, mobilised and standing up. It will confront the power and bring its support and solidarity to Ousmane Sonko. Khalifa Sall is also a victim of these practices of President Macky Sall. He served 32 months in prison. Unjustly arrested. President Macky isthe one responsible for this. Let him know that in 2024, the only person who does not have the right to participate in an election here in Senegal is him (the consitution expressly rules out a third consecutive term). All the other candidates will participate."

To finish, Déthié Falldid not fail to call on the international community. "I have already said, the hour is grave. This is the time to speak out, to remind President Macky Sall of his responsibilities, to draw his attention to the detrimental direction he has taken the country. We did not want this to happen. Since independence the opposition and the government have had to responibly cohabited in peace"

For the head of the PRP, this is no longer the case. "The government in power is multiplying the obstacles, preventing opposition leaders from playing their role"

Dié BA

 

F24 Civil Society Platform says No to the politicisation of justice in Senegal

 

The Senegal F24 group is an umbrella movement made up of more than 170 political and human rights organisations, trade unions and civil society groups aiming to prevent President Sall standing for an unconstitutiona 3rd mandat.

In a document entitled ''No to the use of justice for political purposes'', the F4 recalls that on 16 May 2023, Ousmane Sonko, President of the PASTEF Party is summoned before the criminal chamber raising fears and questions about the likely consequences on social stability and civil peace in our dear country. Justice is a fundamental pillar of the rule of law and in a democracy, citizens must have a confidence in its integity and processes. F24 calls on the judicial and political authorities to show serenity, restraint and fairness in their decisions and actions in the hours, days and weeks ahead,'' the statement said.

The platform, which says it brings together all the forces of the nation, regrets that the main opposition leader, Ousmane Sonko, is being prosecuted simultaneously in several cases marked by an acceleration of procedures and even a violation of appeal deadlines, a right he has by law. According to the platform, Macky Sall has already succeeded in eliminating two candidates, namely Khalifa Ababacar Sall and Karim Wade in the presidential elections following unfair judicial procedures and will not accept a third candidate to add to the list.

Based on the provisions of its charter, F24 gives its unwavering support to the leader of the PASTEF Party and rejects any legal-political artifice aimed at hindering his participation in the 2024 presidential election. It calls on the police to stop besieging Ousmane Sonko's neighbourhood without a warrant, to refrain from violence against him and those accompanying him, and to guarantee him the security to which he is entitled when he travels to the court. It also reminds the executive and judicial authorities that it is up to them not to jeopardise the stability of the country and, to this end, to give the accused Ousmane Sonko the necessary guarantees both for the preservation of his physical integrity and for the respect of his rights to a fair trial. This has so far been manifestly lacking.

 

 

Senegal sees unrest ahead of Ousmane Sonko's trial

Click to watch

Africannews and AP - AFP

The unrest in Ziguinchor, a town in southern Senegal, came one day before the expected start of Sonko’s rape trial in the country’s capital, Dakar. Sonko was charged based on a woman’s accusations that he assaulted her when she worked at a massage salon.

If convicted, Sonko faces up to 10 years in prison and would be barred from running for president.

According to local authorities, a police armoured vehicle struck and killed the officer as it was reversing. The government offered condolences to the officer’s family, calling his death a ‘tragic accident’.

Clashes occurred near Sonko’s home, where he has been staying while vowing to defy any summons to appear in Dakar for the rape trial. Sonko challenged President Macky Sall in Senegal’s 2019 presidential election and was elected mayor of Ziguinchor last year.

Supporters gathered outside his home starting Sunday evening, fearing police would move to arrest him to bring him to court. Messages have circulated on social media calling for supporters to act as Sonko’s “shields.” and defend their leader from arrest.

Sonko recently received a 6-month suspended prison sentence in a defamation case and declared he would no longer respond to court summonses without his safety being guaranteed.

His lawyers told reporters at a news conference in Paris on Monday (May. 15) that Sonko had not yet received a summons but would appear “if conditions were met.”

Senegalese police deployed extra officers in Ziguinchor and elsewhere in Senegal.

 

SENEGAL CONCERN NOTE:

 Ousmane Sonko had announced that he would only attend the trial if his safety from the security forces could be guaranteed. During his last two appearances in court of a different trial, he was attached by security forces, his vehicle window smashed, forcibly extracted and on one occassion sprayed with a highly toxic potentially deadly substance in what has been called an assassination attempt.

The rape accusation case itself is widely viewed as a farce aimed at excluding Sonko (who has a commanding lead in the polls) from the presidential race. The medical certificate from one of Senegal's leading gynacologists cleared him, as it revealed there had been no sexual contact, although the doctor then had attempts to bribe him to change the certificate followed by death threats and attempts on his life when he refused. The leading Gendarmerie investigator faced death threats, sacking and military detention after he revealed that an internal Police enquiry had found that the Chief prosecutor had altered witness statements and infroduced false evidence to implicate Sonko. Leaked audi tapes from the supposed victim (which she does not deny making) reveals her admitting the whole matter was an engineered plot as he had never had any relations with her. The investigating judge refused to accept evidence submitted by the accused revealing clear evidence of conspiracy against him.

It should be further noted that President Macky Sall's two previous main presidential contenders have both also found themselves excluded for running against him due to cases brought against them in the courts.

 

 

 

Protesters take to the streets of Dakar against Senegal President Sall

Africanews 

By Philip Andrew Churm with AFP

 13.05.2023

Thousands or protesters took to the streets of the Senegalese capital Dakar, Friday 12 May, against President Macky Sall's refusal to rule out standing for a third term in office.

The demonstrations were organised by a group callled the "Movement of the living forces of Senegal F24"; referring to the scheduled election date of February 24 2024

Tensions have been stoked by Sall's refusal to rule out running for a third term as president, a move his opponents say would be unconstitutional.

Protester, Famo Dabo, explained why she was at the protest.

"We came here to liberate Senegal, to tell Macky Sall that he has to stop his dictatorial path," she said. 

"He only has to release the political prisoners, we are fed up, we don't want him anymore, we tell him ‘Enough.' 

"He only has to leave our Senegal, we want peace, we don't want problems with anyone."

The Senegal F24 group is an umbrella movement made up of more than 170 political and human rights organisations, aiming to pressure Sall not to stand for election next year.

Opposition leaders and influential members of organisations addressed the rally, calling on Sall to leave power and demanding the release of more than 300 "political detainees."

Another protester, Mamadou, said: "Senegalese democracy is in a coma. Why is it in a coma? The simplest principle in democracy, the free participation of political actors in elections, is biased, this simple principle is flouted. 

"President Macky Sall systematically blocks the democratic process in our country."

Many protesters pledged their support for opposition politician Ousmane Sonko, who was recently sentenced to a six-month suspended prison sentence for defamation and insults against the tourism minister which threatens his eligibility to run for president.

Mamadou believes the sentence is politically motivated. 

"There will be no elections in this country without the candidate Ousmane Sonko, this is very clear, we do not fool ourselves, we do not fool ourselves. 

"And we will have a defensive posture to impose this candidacy of right, whatever the means. We will not let ourselves be taken advantage of, this country is ours, this country has given us everything, this country has given us everything. 

"We are the youth of this country and we want Ousmane Sonko, it is as simple as that."

The opposition has accused Sall's government of using the judicial machinery to target potential challengers.

Although it is widely thought that Sall intends to run for election, he has not confirmed or denied it.

In Senegal, the government is cracking down on human rights - National Public Radio (USA) Interview

 Listen to National Public Radio (USA) interview on Senegal

 

LISTEN HERE

 

NPR's Miles Parks speaks with Ousmane Diallo, a researcher at Amnesty International, about the state of democracy in Senegal, amid government crackdowns on human rights and political opposition.

TRANSCRIPT:

MILES PARKS, HOST:

Senegal is widely touted as a model of democracy in West Africa, but recent crackdowns on journalists and opposition leaders there have some questioning whether the country is headed into a backslide. Ousmane Diallo is a researcher at Amnesty International in Dakar. He joins us now to tell us about what they're seeing there. Hi, Ousmane.

OUSMANE DIALLO: Hello, Miles.

PARKS: So can you give us a real quick overview of Senegal's system of government? I know it has this reputation of stability, but can you tell us why it has this reputation?

DIALLO: Senegal, as you know, is one of the longest democracies in West Africa. There has never been a military takeover in Senegal. There has never been a military rule to the difference of many neighboring countries. Senegal stands out as a democratic beacon in the region. But now, I think, over the last two years, authorities have intensified repression.

PARKS: It seems like a big concern is retaliation against opposition leaders to the current president, Macky Sall. Can you tell us about what's happened just in that individual aspect of this?

DIALLO: Yes. So it's in the context of the 2024 presidential elections. Since there are judicial cases against one opposition leader, Ousmane Sonko, there is an intense militarization of law and order in Senegal, and the neighborhood of Ousmane Sonko has been barricaded by the police, actually.

PARKS: And what about the charges against this opposition leader, Ousmane Sonko?

DIALLO: There are two cases against him. The first is a rape complaint. But also there is another case of defamation. What is really at stake right now is that a conviction of Ousmane Sonko in one of the two charges against him could render him ineligible to the 2024 presidential elections.

PARKS: So turning to the media now - some journalists have also been arrested recently in Senegal. Can you talk a little bit about the charges that are being brought against them?

DIALLO: Just two weeks ago, a journalist was arrested and charged with contempt of court and dissemination of fake news. And this charge of dissemination of fake news has been used a lot to jail journalists and opposition figures or even members of the civil society that talk and comment about the political situation. Even in the case of Pape Ale Niang, who is a journalist of Wolof TV, the arrest and charges are linked to the case against Ousmane Sonko.

PARKS: See, all of this is surprising to me, Ousmane, because my understanding was that Senegal had a fairly robust media landscape over the last few years. When did this start shifting?

DIALLO: Since the March 2021 protests, we have seen more pressure against press actors.

PARKS: These protests - what happened, and what did they lead to?

DIALLO: So this protest in March 2021 were, I think, rather unique in the recent political history of Senegal, and they were triggered actually by the arrest of Ousmane Sonko while he was responding to a summons on the rape case filed against him. The security forces used lethal force against those protesters, and we had accounted around 14 people that died during the protest. Three were children. It marked a milestone in Senegal about the relations between the citizenry and the security forces and the lack of accountability related to the death of those 14 people is still a sore issue in the public debate in Senegal.

PARKS: There are reports that President Sall, the current president, might try to run for a third term. There is a two-term limit for the office, but I read today that he does not feel like it applies to him. Can you tell us about that?

DIALLO: Yes, Senegalese were surprised following a media interview made by President Macky Sall to a French newspaper L'Express in which he said that he was eligible to a third term, but he hasn't made his decision.

PARKS: What would be the response among the population there if President Macky Sall does run for this third term?

DIALLO: I think this situation is contributing to the instability of Senegal, because regarding the eligibility of the president, Macky Sall, the question will be decided by the Constitutional Council. It is going to be challenged, and there is going to be a violent protest irrespective of the decision.

PARKS: Can you talk broadly what all this means for all of West Africa? Considering how important Senegal has been as this sort of model of democracy, what does this backsliding mean for the region?

DIALLO: We have seen the coup d'etat in Mali and also in Burkina Faso, and also we have seen third-term bids by President Alassane Dramane Ouattara in Cote d'Ivoire. Many West Africans see the situation in Senegal as epitomizing the travails of the region. Unfortunately, I think if the situation in Senegal takes a turn for the worse, we are likely to see more backsliding in the region and more disaffection actually against political elites by the citizenry of Senegal, but also Mali, Cote d'Ivoire and the rest of the West African countries.

PARKS: That's Ousmane Diallo, a researcher at Amnesty International in Senegal. Thank you so much for joining us.

DIALLO: Thank you so much.

Ousmane Sonko's "Meet the People" tour again attacked with tear gas by security forces

 

Play here (Wolof & French) https://youtu.be/JHknafs6haQ

For the umpteenth time the convoy of Ousmane Sonko, president of the PASTEF party, and opposition leader, on his “Neemeeku Tour” (meet the people tour) has been the victim of unprovoked and illegal attack by members of the Gendarmerie security forces. The tour is designed to meet local supporters in the rural areas and listen to their grievances and has been invariably met by local youth and other supporters coming out to greet and follow theconvoy.

This time it was in the town of Taiba Ndiaye , where Ousmane Sonko was visiting supporters, and was welcomed by local populations, that the forces of "law and order" proved themselves yet again to be the forces of "no-law and disorder".

The unprovoked firing of tear gas at the convoy and at local supporters was not the result of any provocation. It was an entirely legal activity and reminiscent of many other political campaigns carried out by the ruling party without incidence. Ousmane Sonko supporters acted with resilience and refused to be provoked into responding.

In fact the convoy was even attacked when leaving the town. It appears that the main concern of the Police was to prevent the local populations from being seen to show their support for the opposition leader. Despite their best efforts the young people still came out to support the convoy.

It should be remembered that in March the African Union's The African Commission on Human and Peoples' Rights issued a statement strongly condemning "the excessive use of force by law enforcement officers against civilians". It further went on to remind the Senegalese Authorities of the fact that "freedom of movement and demonstration are guaranteed by Articles 11 and 12 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples' Rights), as well as the right to a fair trial which includes the respect of the presumption of innocence (Article 7 of the African Charter)." It further called on the "Senegalese authorities to take all necessary measures to restore calm and stability by refraining from the use of force".
https://achpr.au.int/en/news/press-releases/2023-03-16/press-statement-human-rights-situation-senegal

From yesterday's events it would appear these calls fell on deaf ears.

 From Worldview - RANE (Risk Assessment Network + Exchange)

 

 Senegal’s 2024 Election Could Threaten One of West Africa's Most Stable Democracies

April 24, 202

 In Senegal, mobilization of the opposition and the outcomes of ongoing legal battles could trigger massive unrest and — in an extreme scenario — a constitutional crisis that could plunge the historically stable country into violence. More than one hundred political and civil society groups in Senegal formed a coalition on April 16 to oppose a third term for President Macky Sall. The coalition is called the F24 Movement of Vital Forces and is coordinated by Mamadou Mbodj, a long-standing member of the Senegalese opposition. Ousmane Sonko, the leading opposition candidate for the February 2024 presidential election and the subject of two ongoing criminal trials, was among those who attended the coalition's launch.

 

• The F24 is meant to evoke commonalities with the June 23 Movement, or M23, that fought against a third term for former President Abdoulaye Wade in 2011-2. Senegal's constitutional court approved Wade's bid to run for a third term, but large-scale protests erupted, and Wade eventually lost the presidential election to Sall in 2012. 
• In addition to condemning Sall's ambiguity on a third term, F24 is also calling for the release of political detainees who were arrested during demonstrations related to Sonko's ongoing defamation case.
•  Sonko was convicted of defamation for comments he made in 2022 about the Senegalese tourism minister on March 30. He received a sentence of two months in prison and a fine of 200 million CFA francs (about $334,000). While the ruling will not bar Sonko from contesting the presidency, Mame Mbaye Niang, the minister of tourism who has accused Sonko of defamation, appealed the judgment and is seeking a harsher sentence, which is scheduled to be heard on May 8. Sonko faces a separate trial process for allegedly raping a beauty salon employee in 2021. In both cases, Sonko denies any wrongdoing; he and his supporters have persistently characterized the accusations as trumped-up, politically motivated charges intended to bar him from seeking the presidency
•  For the first time in Senegalese history, the president's party does not have a majority in parliament after July 31 2022 legislative elections delivered a decisive victory for the opposition coalition. 

The opposition's move is a reaction to Sall's ambiguity about whether or not he will seek a third term, which his opponents consider illegal. On March 20, Sall remarked that running for a third term would not violate the Senegalese Constitution, as the amendment that limits presidential tenure to two five-year terms was passed after his first term had begun. Earlier that month, Sall told journalists he was delaying his decision regarding whether to run in the February 2024 election to prevent political dysfunction. It remains unclear exactly when Sall will announce his intentions, but opponents have already announced their candidacies in opposition to Sall's Senegalese Democratic Party (PDS). The PDS has become increasingly repressive in recent months, refusing to grant permits for political demonstrations, arresting journalists and opposition leaders, and cracking down on political demonstrations. In addition to Sall's recent comments, these actions have fueled rumors that Sall is preparing to break with Senegal's relatively stable democratic system to extend his tenure.

• Senegal is one of the few West African countries that has not experienced a coup since gaining independence from France in 1960 and is broadly considered to have a relatively stable democracy.

Sonko's trial dates will likely trigger even greater demonstrations of resistance against the government, whereas indications that Sall intends to seek a third term could prompt a constitutional crisis. The semi-frequent opposition demonstrations that have brought Dakar and other Senegalese cities to a standstill over the last few years are likely to increase in cadence as the election nears, tensions continue to heighten and Sonko's trials proceed. If Sonko is sentenced to more than three months in prison during the defamation appeal trial or the rape trial, he will be ineligible to run for president, which would very likely lead to widespread violent unrest in the capital and smaller cities throughout the country. Meanwhile, Sall's candidacy also has the potential to trigger intense unrest and a constitutional crisis in one of West Africa's historically most stable countries. The questionable transparency of Senegalese courts means that Sall could receive judicial approval to amend the constitution to allow for three presidential terms and/or extended tenure. However, based on his previous statements that a third term would not be unconstitutional, it seems more likely that he would not pursue constitutional reform, instead skirting the question of legality and using police and security forces to suppress the opposition. This would likely spark a full-blown national crisis and create a longer-term domestic debate about the integrity of the Senegalese Constitution, which future governments may seek to amend to tighten perceived loopholes. Even if Sall does pursue another term and employs repressive measures, he is not guaranteed to win, as support for the opposition has been on the rise in response to what many Senegalese view as government abuses of power.

• The F24 invited members to mobilize on May 12 against the "unconstitutional candidacy of Macky Sall," which means that clashes between opposition demonstrators and police can be expected. 
• Even if Sall does not seek a third term, clashes and unrest are expected ahead of the election, given the Senegalese police forces' propensity to crack down on opposition demonstrations. 
• Every time Sonko is summoned to court, the government suspends traffic on the Dakar Dem Dikk bus service, bans the use of scooters and motorcycles, closes schools, and barricades opposition party officials into their homes.

 

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

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.

Opposition leader Ousmane Sonko's speech from his hospital bed - 20th March 2023

Transalation of a speech given by Preisdent Ousmane Sonko, opposition leader, given in French, from his hospital bed following the attack on him on the 16th March (see here).

 

"Let us begin these remarks with words of thank you. I would like to thank all of you for all the support shown since what happened on Thursday.  Thank you to all the compatriots, but also the many international partners, for all the concerns for my health that have been expressed.

We give thanks to God and thank all those, whether they be political partners, members of citizen’s movements, members of civil society organisation or simple citizens of all persuasions, who were so worried that they went out of their way to come to the hospital, but who were unfortunately not able to see me. We thank everyone for these compassionate gestures and the expression of concerns for my wellbeing.

Let me reassure you that I am feeling much better, and I owe this improvement to the medical staff of all specialisms who have been by my side ever since coming to this hospital. They have done an extraordinary job to enable me to speak to you today, because three or four days ago we were in the hospital. three or four days ago I was certainly not able to address you in the condition I was in.

What happened that day has been seen by all, it is, simply put, a potential assassination attempt, or at least a serious attack on my physical integrity beyond the other obvious violations of my rights.

The flagrant violations of my rights, when for a second occasion my car was broken into  and I was forcibly extracted, this time to bring me by force to the court for a procedure for which my presence is not mandatory. My car was broken into, the window smashed, and I was extracted and brutalized, but the worst thing was that the police, specifically from the BIP (elite Multipurpose Intervention Brigade), sprayed me with an extremely toxic liquid that produced nefarious effects on my respiratory system, eyes, skin, and also affected my digestive system.

We do not know the exact nature of this liquid, even if the doctors have their suspicions. My clothes have been sent out of the country for analysis because, unfortunately, we were told that the analyses cannot be done by a laboratory in Senegal. We are currently waiting for the results.

Nothing justified this brutality unless  it was a deliberate attempt to physically harm me, and this is not the first time that it happened. The worst thing was the extremely serious refusal to allow me access to an ambulance to take me to the hospital from my home.

I have been in the hospital now for several days. I have benefitted from treatment from several specialists, something which has resulted in me feeling much better. I thank all of the medical staff.

Many people have spoken of medical evacuation to take me abroad, not necessarily to benefit from better medical expertise, but to access a higher level of medical technical capacity. I thank you for this solicitude, this concern shown for me,  but I consider that a medical evacuation cannot be on the agenda for two reasons.

The first reason is the confidence we have in the Senegalese medical staff. They are very competent and are carrying out a good job. Of course, if they were to advise that a medical evacuation was medically necessary we would have to review the decision, but for the moment I am in good hands.

The second reason is a political consideration. Dear compatriots our struggle is here in Senegal. You will understand that in the history of political struggles every time a political power, whether it is kingdom or a republic, has been confronted with an opposition that has outstripped them, posing them a real problem, the first option is often to send them to exile. Prophets have been exiled, great saints have been exiled, and resistance fighters have been exiled,  because it is seen as the best way to cut the link between the figurehead of a movement and the rest of that movement.

We will not give that option to Macky Sall. Once out of the country, he may try to use all sort of legal instruments to make my return much more complex, and much more difficult. The struggle is taking place here in Senegal. It will take place, it will be organised, and will be rolled out in perfect symbiosis between all the militants, whether they are at the level of the top leadership, including myself, or at the grassroots. I am a member of this leadership group, but I am also a member of the group of those who are at the grassroots level and who are leading the fight.

Our fight is that of all Senegalese citizens, all patriots, transcending political parties, transcending movements. It is a fight for our future, the future of our country, and to preserve our democracy that is being massively compromised by Macky Sall and his dictatorial regime. This is why I will stay here in Senegal,  and I will continue the fight by your side.

I would just like to say that Macky Sall's strategy of terror will not pass. Since March 2021 until today many people have fallen under the bullets of the police and private militias of Macky Sall. Today in Bignona, in the south of the country, a young boy was shot in the head and killed by the security forces.

This is why I appeal to the international community to recognise that what is happening is a crime against humanity, and that sooner or later Macky Sall will have to account for his crimes before a national or international court. These crimes cannot go unpunished and are only justified by his desire for a third term of office and the elimination of his political opponents of which I, Ousmane Sonko, is the main one.

What has happened is very serious, but I am warning Macky Sall that if he wants to make an attempt on my life to take all his dispositions, because each time I will oppose him. Every time he wants to violate my most basic rights, to resort to Police brutality to restrict my right of free movement or to be able to leave my house, I will oppose him. That is why I am appealing to all of the Senegalese people, and indeed to all of Senegal's partners, because what is happening in Senegal will inevitably lead us to a very uncertain future.

We will not turnback. Whatever the cost is what it will. We will not accept that Macky Sall and his small group, which is a tiny minority in Senegal, impose their diktat on us."