Senegal: Political turmoil deepens amidst crackdown on protests
The political unrest in Senegal intensifies as authorities suppress protests, leading to the loss of two lives. Demonstrations erupted in response to President Macky Sall’s abrupt decision to postpone the upcoming elections.
A 23-year-old was fatally shot during clashes in Dakar on Saturday, while a 22-year-old student lost their life in Saint-Louis, in the country’s north, under circumstances that remain unclear.
The unexpected delay in the elections, just three weeks before the scheduled vote, took everyone by surprise, dictated by President Macky Sall.
This move was sanctioned by the National Assembly of Senegal, which voted to push the election to December 15, forcibly removing opposition legislators in the process.
The crackdown on protests has stirred widespread condemnation from both the opposition and some government allies.
A fresh round of protests, organized by a civil society collective named “Protect Our Election,” is set to take place on Tuesday.
