[Live] What is the situation in Senegal?

What is really going on in Senegal? Social networks have been cut in the country and it is difficult to get information. Between information and counter-information, here is what we know about the situation. By our correspondent on site, Gaston Yawi.

[Last update Monday, June 5 at 16:37 p.m.]

The art of digital manipulation

“1 million people” were announced by several Twitter accounts on Independence Square in Dakar. A digital intox which could not lead to anything: "A call to demonstrate on social networks in a country where the internet is cut is pure and simple manipulation", indicates the specialist in digital insurrection movements Saladin.

END GOAL🚨🇸🇳

All at Independence Square heading for the city center for the final assault.
SHARE PLEASE!#FreeSenegal pic.twitter.com/JHhvRghqtw

— FREE SENEGAL 🇸🇳 (@_FreeSenegal) June 5, 2023

The meeting, which was scheduled for 11 a.m., was postponed to 16 p.m. and never took place. "There was no one on the Place de l'Indépendance, the shops were open as usual", sums up a local resident. Even the demonstrators later expressed their astonishment that no rally had actually taken place.

????
There was a start of a rally at Independence Square today but arrests took place because not enough people!

The appointment at Independence Square is at 16 p.m. #FreeSenegal

— ✨TaytuBetul ✨🇸🇳💪🏾 (@Awah_Juuf) June 5, 2023

“Digital allows you to create your own truth, or even reverse it,” continues Saladin. There was, before, the post-truth, which says that we have entered a period where personal opinion, ideology and fact prevail over the reality of facts. I would say that there, we are confronted with a phenomenon of pre-truth, where the lie precedes an event in order to manipulate the crowds”.

4G functional again

“4G has been working again since this morning,” our correspondent tells us. Some restrictions still remain, particularly in terms of access to social networks. Voice calls go through some users, while others go through VPNs (virtual private network). "It all depends on the proxies, used by some operators who seek to control access," says a tech specialist. The Ministry of Communication speaks of suspensions of mobile internet on certain time slots.

Auchan and BP burned

If clashes have taken place in recent days in certain neighborhoods - Sicap Karak, Sicap Baobab, Liberté or even Ngor village - and that boat and plane connections have been cut between Ziguinchor, the city of which Ousmane Sonko is mayor, and Cap Skirring, the situation remained calm that night in the districts of Almadies and Mermoz.

"The situation in Dakar is calm," said a Senegalese contacted by telephone by Le Journal de l'Afrique. A few people are rushing to supermarkets to stock up.” Regarding the demonstrators, some “burned Auchan or BP stations”.

Internet cut

After restricting access to various social networks - WhatsApp, Facebook and Twitter - the government on Sunday suspended internet on phones "due to the dissemination of hateful and subversive messages".

Orange confirms on its Twitter account to its users that "the State has decided to suspend the mobile Internet which is thus experiencing disruptions among all operators".

Hello @memphis_leau,
The State has decided to suspend mobile internet, which is experiencing disruptions for all operators.
We apologize for the inconvenience suffered.#Ibou

— Orange Senegal ⭐ (@orange_sn) June 4, 2023

Peaceful situation, this Sunday evening

As, in particular, indicated by AFP, "the tension is gradually falling in Senegal". This Sunday evening, the calm is relative after the scuffles of recent days. “Calm has returned, but that does not mean that tomorrow the clashes will not resume”, summarized this afternoon a young Senegalese who is observing the situation.

But on Twitter, among others, speculation is rife. Opponents and supporters of Macky Sall do not hesitate to rail against each other, highlighting videos taken out of context.

Did the army “join the Resistance”?

For nearly 24 hours, tweets, posted by Twitter accounts from different countries, relay a disturbing message, ensuring in particular that "the soldiers are joining the resistance of the people" and that Macky Sall is "not found".

In Senegal, the soldiers join the resistance of the people. The people always win. Time is coming for you #DRC https://t.co/nJqIjY8FPd

— Jean Nafulu (@jean_nafulu) June 4, 2023

In reality, the videos of soldiers in the streets of Dakar are numerous and show the deployment carried out by the army last Friday. On other videos, we observe the soldiers positioning themselves in several districts of Dakar. A deployment that takes place in a rather peaceful way, hence certain videos showing soldiers alongside demonstrators.

On the video in question, "these are young people who escort soldiers returning from patrol", sums up a Senegalese security specialist. The Minister of the Interior ensures for his part that, "while calling for calm and serenity of our fellow citizens, the State of Senegal has taken all measures to guarantee the safety of people and property".