Amid the scheduled presidential election turmoil in Senegal, Dakar witnessed a series of protests over the weekend. While opposition groups and civil society organizations demanded President Macky Sall to announce an election date, his supporters held a significant event elsewhere in the city.
On Saturday, hundreds of protesters gathered in Dakar’s HLM Grand Yoff neighborhood, responding to the F24 collective’s call, chanting slogans against President Sall’s leadership. Opposition leaders and presidential candidates joined the protesters, voicing the urgency of holding the election promptly.
Dethié Fall, a presidential candidate, emphasized the Senegalese population’s demand for a swift election, urging President Sall to comply with democratic principles. Thierno Alassane Sall of the FC25 Front reiterated their refusal to engage in dialogue with the President, stating their intention to submit a collective request to the Constitutional Council for adherence to its decisions.
Despite a strong police presence, the rally proceeded peacefully. Abdoulaye Bathily, the president of F24 movement’s communication commission, condemned President Sall’s actions as a constitutional coup, expressing the protesters’ rejection of any delay in the electoral process.
Political commentators commended the F24 organizers for a well-managed and bipartisan gathering. In contrast, President Sall’s supporters congregated in another part of Dakar to express gratitude for his tenure. The event, marked by thousands of supporters, was met with skepticism by some media outlets, attributing the country’s political crisis to Sall’s decisions.
While Sall defended the election delay citing candidate disqualifications and concerns over potential unrest, supporters like Mamadou Dia praised his achievements as president and dismissed criticisms. Sall is expected to announce the election date on Tuesday evening, despite opposition candidates boycotting the dialogue invitation.
As the political impasse looms, Senegal braces for further developments, with the Constitutional Council holding the key to determining the nation’s electoral future.
