by Zohra Bensemra and Diadie Ba
DAKAR, Feb 5 (Reuters) – Riot police used tear gas again on Monday in Dakar to disperse demonstrators who had gathered in front of the National Assembly to protest against the postponement of the planned presidential election initially on February 25.
Demonstrations have continued since President Macky Sall announced on Saturday that the vote was postponed to an indefinite date due to a dispute over the integrity of the electoral process.
President Macky Sall announced on Saturday that the vote was postponed indefinitely due to a dispute over the integrity of the electoral process.
The opposition and civil society groups denounce an institutional coup.
Parliament was to debate on Monday a bill providing for the holding of the presidential vote on August 25 and the extension of Macky Sall’s mandate until a successor takes office.
Around a hundred people gathered in front of the building on Monday as a sign of protest. Security forces made arrests, Reuters journalists reported.
The Minister of Communications announced in a press release that internet connections had been suspended since Sunday evening in order to cut short “hate messages” on social networks.
Senegal has never before postponed a presidential election and uncertainty over the next stages of the political crisis risks fueling further unrest, as violently repressed protests in recent years have tarnished the country’s reputation as one of the most stable democracies in West Africa.
The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) expressed concern about 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, a former colonial power, also called on Senegal to “remove uncertainties around the electoral calendar”, saying it was monitoring the situation “with keen attention”. (Reporting by George Obulutsa and Rachel Savage; written by George Obulutsa and Sofia Christensen; French version Jean-Stéphane Brosse and Sophie Louet, edited by Kate Entringer)
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