Senegal: return to calm after tensions following the brief arrest of three opponents
A police officer deployed in the streets of Dakar, Senegal, on November 10, 2021. AFP - SEYLLOU
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2 min
Barthélémy Dias, candidate for mayor of Dakar, Ousmane Sonko of the Pastef party, and Malick Gakou of the Grand Party were briefly arrested this Wednesday, November 10, 2021. They had called for mobilization in the streets, while Barthélémy Dias was summoned to court in the context of a case dating from 2011 and the attack on his town hall by alleged henchmen.
With the approach of the local elections of January 23, these political tensions are very commented on in Dakar.
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With our correspondent in Dakar
,
Charlotte Idrac
"
Dakar is close to March 2021
",
Sud Quotidien
title
, in reference to the deadly riots in the context of the legal proceedings targeting Ousmane Sonko at the time. "
The FDS (the defense and security forces) dictate their law
", according to
L'Enquête
, which underlines that "
the police had prepared
" "
for a possible second wave of violence
". For its part, the Sun, a national daily, is content with a banner in the front page, and recalls the referral of the appeal trial of Barthélémy Dias to December 1.
As of this Wednesday evening,
each camp had delivered its version of the facts
.
Barthélémy Dias "
thanked the Senegalese people who mobilized for democracy
".
"
If he - President Macky Sall - did not have the defense and security forces, we would make short work of him
" added Ousmane Sonko.
For the majority, however, yesterday's call for mobilization was a “
failure
”.
"
The Senegalese have not responded to the insurrectional call
" of the opposition, affirms Pape Mahawa Diouf of Benno Bokk Yakaar.
The ruling coalition denounces “
apprentice pyromaniacs
” who are trying to destabilize the country.
The red line of the third term
Despite appeasement calls launched in March to end the violence, the political climate remains tense.
Seven months ago, the tension had subsided after the appeal launched in particular by the Caliph General of the Mourides, but we have seen it in recent days with battles of communiques and very offensive statements in the opposition and the majority: the political debate is electric in the perspective of municipal and departmental elections.
These local polls serve as a test to measure the balance of power.
This will be the first call to the polls since the re-election of Macky Sall in 2019. It will also be a test
for the recent Yewwi Askan Wi coalition
created around Ousmane Sonko and Khalifa Sall, with in particular the strategic stake of the city of Dakar , in the hands of the opposition.
And in the background, there is this nagging question of a possible third term of President Macky Sall.
The head of state has said nothing about his intentions for 2024, but for the opposition, she regularly reminds us, it would be a "
red line
".
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