Senegal/Political crisis : Criticisms from a Strategic Ally of Dakar
Washington, a strategic and important partner of the current government in Senegal, has criticized the vote postponing the presidential election scheduled for February 25, which was conducted on Monday, February 5, in a climate deemed unfavorable and highly criticized. The statement from the US State department is clear.
The United States finds that this vote, which allows the postponement of the presidential election to December 15 and extends President Macky Sall’s mandate by ten (10) months, is illegitimate. The US department of State deplores the conditions under which this vote took place, notably in the absence of deputies who opposed this bill.
Indeed, according to reports, opposition MPs were evacuated from the hemicycle by law enforcement, leaving the floor open for parliamentarians from the ruling party and supporters of the rejected candidate, Karim Wade, to act as they pleased. A dangerous political game in which the Senegalese authorities engaged.
This game is contrary to the constitutional texts of Senegal and dangerous for the principles and values of democracy in the country. Thus, US diplomacy calls on the Senegalese government to organize the presidential election in accordance with the Constitution and electoral laws, according to the statement from the US State Department.
As a reminder, the announcement on Saturday of this presidential decision in collaboration with the supporters of the rejected candidate due to a dual nationality issue, Karim Wade, sparked protests and indignation manifested the following Sunday by massive mobilization in the streets of Dakar.
A repressed demonstration that resulted in arrests and suspension of mobile data internet. According to latest reports, mobile data internet has been restored, at least in the capital, and three allied or members of the Pastef party, Guy Marius Sagna, Abass Fall, and Cheikh Aliou Beye, who were arrested on Tuesday, have been released.
