With the approach of the legislative elections which will take place on July 31, tensions are building up between the two camps: on the one hand, the current president of Senegal and of the African Union, Macky Sall, and another, the leader of the opposition, Ousmane Sonko.

The legislative elections aim to renew, for five years, the 165 deputies of the National Assembly, largely dominated by the presidential coalition.

While the prefect of Dakar had initially banned the organization of a demonstration on June 3, the latter reversed his decision allowing thousands of Senegalese to take to the streets on Wednesday June 8.

Shortly before, the latter had rejected the national opposition list for the next legislative elections and more generally against power.

A demonstration finally authorized

The demonstration took place from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. on the Place de l'Obélisque, near the center of the capital, Dakar, where a dense crowd, draped in the national colors of green, gold and red, gathered.

"This demonstration is a warning to Macky Sall. Our only enemy is Macky Sall", declared Ousmane Sonko, member of the National Assembly and mayor of the city of Ziguinchor, in front of thousands of Senegalese who came to show their support for him.

"There are too many political malpractices. The people are suffering. We want Senegal to develop," said a protester.

"How can a country develop without education, without health or food? We are fed up with the president," said a second protester at the microphone of France 24.  

The latter, angry, revolt against the obstacles that stand against the opposition to participate in the legislative elections, the political situation and the rise in prices that is raging in the country.  

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Reasons for refusal   

For its part, the government refutes the accusations against it and explains the reasons which led the Constitutional Council to refuse these lists.

The Constitutional Council confirmed last week the rejection of the national list of Yewwi Askan Wi, a coalition led by the party of Ousmane Sonko.

This decision amounts to dismissing Ousmane Sonko, third in the 2019 presidential election and declared candidate for that of 2024, and other opposition figures from the elections.

This is the list of holders of Yewwi Askan Wi, and not that of alternates, which remains valid.

He also invalidated the list of substitutes for the presidential majority, but not that of the incumbents.

4:30 p.m.

Historic visit of the King of the Belgians to DR Congo to "strengthen ties" © agencies

According to Alioune Ndoye, the Minister of Fisheries and Maritime Economy, the opponents "did not respect minor rules such as those relating to parity and sponsorship".

Indeed, he criticizes the opposition for having made an error in choosing an ineligible person to represent them.

"A person cannot be present in two lists (holder and substitute) according to the law", he declared on the antenna of France 24 on Tuesday June 7. 

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Senegalese President Macky Sall during his interview on France 24 and RFI, June 9, 2022. © screenshot

The Senegalese president also spoke on this subject by declaring in an interview with France 24 and RFI, broadcast on June 9, "that a list which does not respect what the law says, is eliminated".

"If we are a stable country, it is no coincidence. We have an electoral code, it has been discussed for months", before concluding, "why when it comes to the opposition, that there is an unfavorable decision, we will call for the end of the world."

In March 2021, tensions between the government and the opposition experienced a particularly violent episode with the arrest of Ousmane Sonko, accused by the courts of alleged rape and placed in police custody.

His arrest gave rise to riots for almost a week, causing fourteen deaths.

Indicted by the courts on March 8, 2021, he was released under judicial supervision and still is today.

To read on France 24 >>> Ousmane Sonko, main Senegalese opponent, arrested after incidents in Dakar

The demonstration was a test of the opposition's ability to mobilize its troops.

According to AFP, for many observers of Senegalese political life, the legislative elections of July 31 represent an important issue two years before the presidential election of 2024: the outcome of the ballot could influence President Macky's decision. Sall whether or not to seek a third term.

With AFP

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