Senegal: Thousands demonstrate peacefully at the call of Yewwi Askan Wi
A sympathizer of the Yewwi Askan Wi coalition on Place de la Nation in Dakar, June 8, 2022. © Charlotte Idrac / RFI
Text by: RFI Follow
2 mins
Planned since last week, the mobilization comes after the decision of the Constitutional Council which invalidated the national list of holders of Yewwi Askan Wi for the legislative elections of July 31, following an error in the preparation of this list.
Leaders, in the first place Ousmane Sonko, are therefore excluded from the race.
The authorized demonstration took place peacefully.
Advertising
Read more
With our correspondent in Dakar,
Charlotte Idrac
From the beginning of the afternoon, the activists arrived gradually, from afar for some, under the sun, with flags in the colors of Senegal, banners, whistles... On the stage set up on the Place de la Nation, the leaders of the coalition speak in turn.
Ousmane Sonko is present, like Barthélémy Dias the mayor of Dakar, or Khalifa Sall, former city councilor of the capital.
For Ousmane Sonko, this demonstration marks the beginning of the campaign for the legislative elections: “
When an order is manifestly illegal, we must disobey
”, launches the opponent who proclaims: “
our only enemy is Macky Sall
.
»
The speeches
once again denounce the decision of the Constitutional Council
, described as "
forfeiture
", considered as a strategy of power to block the way to the main opposition figures.
Many demonstrators express their mistrust of justice.
What is also on the signs is the slogan "no to a third term", this possible third candidacy of Macky Sall in 2024, a question on which the head of state has not clearly decided.
Several thousand people responded to the appeal of the main opposition coalition on June 8 in Dakar.
© Charlotte Idrac/RFI
A cohabitation at the Assembly
The demonstrators denounce the governance, the high cost of living, but also a lack of independence of justice and question the Minister of the Interior Antoine Félix Diome, in charge of the organization of the elections.
“
As he is unable to resign, Macky Sall is required to bring a fair person to organize the elections
,” warns Barthélémy Dias, mayor of Dakar and head of the list for the department.
“
We will impose cohabitation on the Assembly
”, assure the demonstrators.
And this in particular thanks to an alliance with the Wallu Senegal coalition of former President Abdoulaye Wade, says the former mayor of Dakar Khalifa Sall.
For the leaders of Yewwi Askan Wi, this demonstration is "
a warning
" to "
put pressure
" on power.
Calm and peaceful, it brought together several thousand people.
A large force of law enforcement had been deployed near the square.
For their part, the leaders of the ruling coalition had called on Tuesday evening to respect the decisions of the Constitutional Council, they accuse the opposition of Yewwi Askan Wi of creating instability, calling for violence and threatening institutions.
Newsletter
Receive all the international news directly in your mailbox
I subscribe
Follow all the international news by downloading the RFI application
google-play-badge_EN
Senegal