Senegal: New demonstrations in Dakar after postponement of presidential election, police disperse demonstrators

Riot police used tear gas again in Dakar this Monday to disperse demonstrators gathered in front of the National Assembly to protest the postponement of presidential elections originally scheduled for February 25.

Demonstrations have continued since the vote was postponed until an unspecified date due to a dispute over the integrity of the electoral process, President Macky Sell announced on Saturday.

President Mackie Sale announced on Saturday that the vote had been postponed indefinitely due to a dispute over the integrity of the electoral process.

Institutional rebellion

Opposition and civil society groups condemn the institutional coup.

Parliament was scheduled to debate this Monday on a bill to hold a presidential vote on August 25 and extend Mackie Sale’s mandate until a successor takes office.

About a hundred people gathered in front of the building on Monday in protest. Security forces made the arrests, Reuters reporters reported.

The communications minister announced in a press release that internet connections were suspended from Sunday evening to cut short “hate messages” on social networks.

One of the most stable democracies in West Africa

Senegal has never postponed a presidential election before and the uncertainty over the next phase of the political crisis fueled further unrest, as violently suppressed protests in recent years tarnished the country’s reputation as the most stable democracy in West Africa.

The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) expressed concern over the postponement of the presidential election and demanded that a new date be set as soon as possible.

The African Union also expressed its concern on Monday.

France, the former colonial power, also called on Senegal to “overcome the uncertainties surrounding the election calendar”, saying it was monitoring the situation “very carefully”.