In Senegal, opposition leader Ousmane Sonko launched a series of protests after the invalidation of his coalition's electoral lists for the July legislative elections. Following confrontations with the police on Friday and Saturday, three young people died and eleven were injured.
It took until Saturday for the three deaths in Casamance and Dakar to be confirmed, following Friday's protests in Senegal. After banning these demonstrations, initiated by the Yewwi Askan Wi coalition of opposition leader Ousmane Sonko, the security forces heavily repressed activists who took to the streets of several Senegalese cities.
The reason for the protests? Officially, Ousmane Sonko wanted to denounce the invalidation, by the Constitutional Council, of several lists of his coalition in view of the legislative elections of July 31. Unofficially – although he admits it publicly – Ousmane Sonko wants to “continue the fight against a third term for Macky Sall”.
– A young demonstrator killed in Ziguinchor by live ammunition;
– Another young man killed in Bignona by live ammunition while he was at his party headquarters with comrades.
Macky Sall and his general are assassins. They just added 3 victims to the 13 last year.— Ousmane Sonko (@SonkoOfficiel) June 18, 2022
The same hobbyhorse for the fierce opponent, therefore, for several months. The last deadly clashes in Senegal date back to March 2021. This time, the opposition deplores that two of the three dead were killed by live ammunition in the south of the country, in Ziguinchor and Bignona. Also according to Sonko, one of the young people killed was not even a protester, but was at the headquarters of Sonko's party, the Pastef movement.
On the side of the government, which had banned the demonstrations on Friday, it is absolute silence. Internet users are rather divided as to the responsibility for the death of young people. Some indeed blame Yewwi Askan Wi for proceeding with the protests despite the ban. But in absolute terms, the Senegalese are shocked by the repression of the authorities.
Big mobilizations
The bulk of the confrontations between demonstrators and law enforcement took place in Dakar and Casamance. In the capital, the mobilization was enormous. The next day, the Senegalese gendarmerie anticipated new outings by blocking Ousmane Sonko and his ally, the mayor of Dakar, Barthélémy Dias, at home. Three other main opposition figures were arrested: Ahmet Aidara, Déthié Fall and Mame Fame. From his home, Ousmane Sonko therefore warned the Head of State Macky Sall to come "to look for these political hostages at all costs".
However, Sunday was uneventful, despite the tensions. The fact remains that, on the side of the populations, the time is above all for meditation after the deadly police violence. Violence that happens very early, moreover. If the municipal elections have shown one thing, it is that everything can degenerate as quickly as possible in the country of Teranga.
In January, Macky Sall's APR lost in several major cities, such as Dakar, Thiès and Ziguinchor. And even if the ruling coalition remains relatively popular outside the capital, the opposition gathered around Sonko has been very active since last year. Whether it's inflation, political alternation, social policy, Ousmane Sonko has seized every opportunity to denounce the governance of Macky Sall.
The Senegalese president, for his part, has been rather focused on diplomacy since the start of his presidency of the African Union (AU) last February. Macky Sall has still not decided on his possible candidacy for the next presidential election in 2024. Clearly, the possibility of him running for a third term is rather badly perceived by the opposition and a majority of the populations.
