In two districts of Dakar where protests were anticipated, residents of Senegal’s capital are now embracing the Constitutional Council’s decision to annul the delay in the presidential election.
The Place de la Nation has returned to normalcy, with only a small group of protestors in the Parcelles Assainies neighborhood urging President Macky Sall, a stark contrast to recent tensions.
Lawyer Babou Cisse, 40, expresses hope that President Sall will respect the decision, emphasizing the flagrant constitutional violation.
Sall’s initial move to postpone the February 25 poll triggered the worst crisis in post-independence Senegal, but in response to the council’s ruling, he vows to organize elections “as soon as possible.”
Geographer Alioune Coulibaly, 37, likens the council’s decision to lifting the lid off a boiling pot, hoping the president sets a new date soon.
Despite the renewed calm, a strong security presence remains. Men in traditional boubou dress head home after Friday prayers, students study on benches, and shops are open—a significant change from days of violent protests.
In Parcelles Assainies, police visibility is notable, dispersing a few dozen demonstrators with tear gas. While the scene is calmer, there’s still a palpable security presence.
Lamine Fofana, 29, protests to support the council’s decision that the president must not remain in office beyond April 2, the official end of Sall’s term, as he has reiterated he won’t seek a third term.
The recent unrest resulted in three deaths, challenging Senegal’s image as a stable democracy. Cleaner Pape Alioune Kane, 33, views the Constitutional Council’s decision as steering the country back on track and saving it from further trouble. He urges the opposition to contribute to peace, emphasizing Senegal as a showcase for democracy in Africa.
