Senegal: day of claims under tension, religious leaders are worried
A sympathizer of the Yewwi Askan Wi coalition on Place de la Nation in Dakar, June 8, 2022 (illustration image).
© Charlotte Idrac/RFI
Text by: RFI Follow
1 min
In Senegal, it is a tense day ahead, this Friday, June 17.
The main opposition coalition, Yewwi Askan Wi, is calling for a demonstration in Dakar, a gathering which has however been banned by the prefecture.
The Association of Imams and Ulemas goes so far as to advocate a "
postponement
" of the July legislative elections, "
so that the parties can discuss
".
Advertising
Read more
Yewwi Askan Wi intends to protest again against the invalidation of his national list led by Ousmane Sonko for the legislative elections of July 31, 2022. The Head of State, he called for "
scrupulous respect for the provisions of the electoral code
" .
Faced with this impasse, the Association of Imams and Ulemas in Senegal expresses its concerns and raises the option of postponing the elections.
“
We are very worried
”
“
We, as religious
, says Imam Moctar Ndiaye, in charge of communication for the association,
we are very worried about the current political situation in the country.
A situation where we note, on both sides, death threats, intimidation, calls for insurrection, especially from high political figures.
»
It is, the spokesperson further declares, “
a situation where each party flexes its muscles which inevitably tends towards confrontation, especially with the banning of opposition gatherings.
We recommend first dialogue and consultation in order to find a strong consensus, before going to the legislative elections.
»
“
A postponement just so that the parties can discuss
”
“
Even if it takes a postponement of the latter, a postponement just so that the parties can discuss, can find a consensus, it is an attempt at mediation.
We are going to meet with the parties that deal with the elections.
As a religious, as a regulator, our role is to call on the parties to calm down, to exercise restraint in order to calm the situation
,” concludes Imam Moctar Ndiaye.
►Also read:
Senegal: the demonstration of Yewwi Askan Wi scheduled for Friday banned in Dakar
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
Macky Hall