Senegal roiled by poll delay, protests brewing

In an unprecedented turn of events, civil society groups in Senegal are rallying for mass action following the recent decision to defer the presidential poll to December.

President Macky Sall’s move to postpone the election from February 25 has led the typically stable West African nation into its most significant political turmoil in decades.

Lawmakers supported Sall’s decision, allowing him to stay in office until his successor is expected to take over in 2025, extending his second term, which was set to end in early April.

A newly formed collective, consisting of approximately 40 civil, religious, and professional groups, has outlined a series of planned actions, including a protest, a general strike, and a school walkout.

The platform, known as Aar Sunu Election (Let’s protect our election), issued a statement urging citizens to mobilize nationwide and in the diaspora to prevent what they label as a “seizure of power.”

Scheduled actions include a demonstration on Tuesday, an unspecified date for a general strike, and a school walkout on Friday.

The platform has also called on Muslims to attend Friday prayers wearing white and displaying national colours in a show of unity.

However, the extent to which these calls to action will be heeded remains uncertain.

The Senegalese opposition, denouncing the election delay as a “constitutional coup,” is working to formulate a coherent strategy following the sudden announcement.

Despite President Sall’s reassurance on Saturday that he would not seek another term, the opposition alleges the move is part of a broader plan to avoid defeat or extend his time in office.

Despite the widespread outcry on social media, street mobilization has been sporadic, with attempted demonstrations met with repression from security forces and numerous arrests.

Rights advocates highlight the routine banning of opposition demonstrations by authorities in recent years, which require prior authorization.

Since 2021, Senegal has witnessed several episodes of unrest, resulting in dozens of casualties and hundreds of arrests. The situation continues to evolve, and the response to the calls for mass action will be closely watched in the coming days.

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