Senegal: Can religious leaders ease the current political crisis?

In Senegal, a week after Ousmane Sonko was sentenced to 2 years in prison, an uneasy calm continues to reign over Dakar. Religious leaders traditionally play a mediating role in crises in Senegal. But do they have the means to calm the current political crisis? Faithful met at the exit of the Great Mosque give their opinion. Report.

Audio 01:29

In front of the Grand Mosque of Dakar, June 7, 2023. © David Baché/RFI

Text by: RFI Follow

Advertising

Read more

With our special envoys in Dakar, David Baché and Richard Riffonneau

In Senegal, it is now a week since Ousmane Sonko was convicted and his participation in next year's presidential election is in jeopardy. The country's president, Macky Sall, continues to maintain suspense over his candidacy for a possible and third term, highly contested.

An uneasy calm continues to reign in the capital, suspended from a possible arrest of Ousmane Sonko, cloistered at his home from which the police forbid him to leave.

On June 5, 2023, Macky Sall went to Touba to meet the Khalif General of the Muslim brotherhood of the Mourides, without anything filtering from this interview.

Religious leaders traditionally play a mediating role in Senegal. But do they have the means to calm the current political crisis? What can the Senegalese expect from their involvement?

« Religious leaders are expected to try to defuse this situation »

«

Whenever there are problems, it is the religious leaders who have the ability to solve all these problems. " says a faithful met at the end of prayer, at the Great Mosque of Dakar.

Asked if religious leaders might have less control over politicians, he replied: "No, that is, they don't speak out loud, they don't do it publicly." He continues: "They have to say that we have a Constitution, that people respect the Constitution. No third term, that's for sure.

Regarding the conviction of Ousmane Sonko, another faithful stresses: "It is true that, often, we like to say that the judiciary is independent, in quotation marks. But we know what it is. Much is expected of religious leaders. We are waiting for them to try to defuse this situation that is so difficult.

« The only solution is to let everyone go to the elections. »

Asked about a possible political position of the religious, a third faithful said: "Yes, because we know that it is something political." Another accused: "There are some religious leaders – some, I specify – they are accomplices of Macky Sall, who do not tell the truth. You say that Ousmane Sonko is not like that or like that. But we must say to Macky Sall: "It is you who must back down." »

And when asked if religious leaders are now too close to power, the answer is: "Of course, that's the truth," says one of the interviewees.

One of the faithful said: "Senegal is a country of believers. What they have to say to Ousmane Sonko, to Macky Sall, is that we, the Senegalese, are in a country where people know how to vote. Now, religious leaders, they just have to tell Macky Sall and Ousmane Sonko to leave all the parties that are there. That is the only solution: let everyone go to the elections.

Another concludes: "People have warmed up with a lot of demonstrations left and right. But when they talk, that's enough because all of us are connected to these brotherhoods.

Newsletter Receive all the international news directly in your mailbox

I subscribe

Follow all the international news by downloading the RFI application

Read on on the same topics:

• Senegal