Senegal: the risky summons of the opponent Barthélémy Dias to court
Senegalese socialist opponent Barthélémy Dias, leaving the Dakar court, December 1, 2016. (Archives) SEYLLOU / AFP
Text by: RFI Follow
2 min
In Senegal, a battle of declarations between the majority and the opposition in view of the local elections of January 23, 2022. The opposition coalition Yewwi Askan Wi, formed around Ousmane Sonko and Khalifa Sall, denounces the rejection of several lists by the prefectures and the summons to court this Wednesday, November 10 of Barthélémy Dias, just invested as a candidate of this coalition for mayor of Dakar, causes tension.
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With our correspondent in Dakar
,
Charlotte Idrac
It is a file which dates back to 2011. The attack on the town hall of Mermoz Sacré-Coeur by supposed "thugs" of the Senegalese Democratic Party (PDS), henchmen. Shots are fired. A man, Ndiaga Diouf, is killed. It is in this case that Barthélémy Dias - already sentenced to six months in prison in 2017 - is summoned to the Court of Appeal this Wednesday morning, November 10. The candidate for mayor of Dakar will go to court, but he called for “
resistance
”. “
We are unfortunately in a vast and vulgar political conspiracy. This political plot will not pass and as such, I will ask the Senegalese and particularly this Senegalese youth to mobilize strongly this Wednesday, November 10 and to invade the court in Dakar.
"
"Attempts announced to plunge our country into violence"
A call also relayed by Ousmane Sonko and Khalifa Sall.
"
This summons to appear is only the logical continuation of the referral of the case,
" since July, said the Attorney General.
“
Manipulation
”, “
bad faith
”, answers for its part the coalition of the majority, Beno Bokk Yakaar Mor Ngom, minister adviser to the head of state in a press conference Tuesday.
“
Beno Bokk Yakaar solemnly calls on national opinion to denounce the calls for violence launched by the radical opposition and its announced attempts to plunge our country into violence, instability and terror.
"
A climate that gives rise to fears of tensions: the deadly riots in March were triggered by the proceedings against Ousmane Sonko, which remains under judicial control.
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See also:
Several opposition lists rejected in Senegal, the candidates cry "sabotage"
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