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Senegal’s government on February 05 restricted access to the mobile internet as opposition leaders and supporters launched protests against President Macky Sall’s decision to postpone the presidential election over an electoral dispute, leading to tension, particularly in Dakar, Senegal’s capital.
Senegal’s government on February 05 restricted access to the mobile internet as opposition leaders and supporters launched protests against President Macky Sall’s decision to postpone the presidential election over an electoral dispute, leading to tension, particularly in Dakar, Senegal’s capital.
Lawmakers have been in plenary, and are set to vote on a bill to postpone the presidential poll. The delay was announced Saturday by president Macky Sall. The bill recommends an election delay of up to six months. It would put the next likely election date in August, four months after Sall’s tenure is due to end.
The opposition had called on supporters to gather in an attempt to prevent lawmakers from voting just as Senegalese did on June 23rd, 2011. At the time, Macky Sall hadn’t been elected just yet. On Monday however, the protesters were dispersed by the police who used tear gas and pushed them out of the city centre. Police cordoned off the city, preventing citizens from demonstrating their disapproval of the bill which was introduced by the party of former president Abdoulaye Wade (PDS) and enjoys support from the ruling coalition.
The Ministry of Communication, Telecommunications, and Digital Economy said the internet was cut due to the dissemination of several hateful and subversive messages relayed on social networks in the context of threats and disturbances to public order. Sall on Saturday (Feb. 04) cited a dispute between the judiciary and parliament over the disqualification of some candidates and the reported dual nationality of some qualified candidates.
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https://trendsnafrica.com/france-and-eu-urge-senegal-to-hold-elections/
https://trendsnafrica.com/elections-in-senegal-postponed-no-fresh-date-announced/
Analysts say the crisis in Senegal could further threaten West Africa’s stability at a time when the region is struggling with a recent surge in coups and threats to democratic institutions. The African Union (AU) said it was concerned at the decision to postpone Senegal’s presidential election. In a statement, the AU Commission chairman Moussa Fakhi Mahamat called on Senegal’s government to hold the exercise as possible in transparency, peace, and national harmony.’
