Highlights: Senegal: between the presidency and Ousmane Sonko, a dialogue now seems possible. Ten days after President Macky Sall's announcement to postpone the presidential election, discontent among the opposition and civil society has not weakened. Behind the scenes, the presidency began dialogue with Sonko to try to ease tensions. A large part of the opposition is still calling for the election to be held on February 25 and the departure of Sall on April 2, the date on which he was supposed to hand over power.

Could Senegal be moving towards appeasement? Ten days after President Macky Sall's announcement to postpone the presidential election, discontent among the opposition and civil society...

Senegal: between the presidency and Ousmane Sonko, a dialogue now seems possible

Could Senegal be moving towards appeasement? Ten days after President Macky Sall's announcement to postpone the presidential election, discontent among the opposition and civil society has not weakened, even if calm prevails in the capital. Behind the scenes, the presidency began dialogue with opponent Ousmane Sonko to try to ease tensions.

Senegalese President Macky Sall and government opponent Ousmane Sonko. © Montage RFI - AP/Johanna Geron - AFP/John Wessels

By: RFI Follow

With our correspondent in Dakar,

Juliette Dubois

Intermediaries began to bridge the gap between Macky Sall and

Ousmane Sonko who has been in prison

since July. They are human rights activist Alioune Tine and businessman Pierre Goudiaby Atepa. The latter explains that he was “

appointed facilitator by the president to see how to convince everyone to exchange with the objective of appeasement

”. The release of Ousmane Sonko and several political prisoners is also said to be on the table and negotiations are already underway.

Another sign of appeasement: the restoration of mobile data which had been cut off on Tuesday February 13, and of the signal of the television channel Walf TV on Monday whose license had been withdrawn on the sidelines of the demonstrations on Friday.

But for the moment, these more or less discreet gestures do not convince everyone. A large part of the opposition is still calling for the election to be held on February 25 and the departure of Macky Sall on April 2, the date on which he was supposed to hand over power to his successor.

The Constitutional Council must still rule on the appeals filed by candidates to challenge the law which sets the new date of the poll at December 15. Macky Sall has so far given him no sign of backpedaling. And the new collective of civil society organizations Aar Sunu Elections is still planning a march on Saturday February 17 across the country to protest against the postponement of the election.

Read alsoPostponement of the election in Senegal: civil society is mobilizing, calls for calm are increasing

Senegal: between the presidency and Ousmane Sonko, a dialogue now seems possible

Senegal: between the presidency and Ousmane Sonko, a dialogue now seems possible

You may like

Trends 24h

Latest