Tensions escalated in Senegal as clashes erupted between security forces and protesters, marking the first widespread unrest following the postponement of the presidential election. Amid concerns over President Macky Sall’s extended mandate, parliament’s decision to delay the vote until December has ignited fears of prolonged instability in one of West Africa’s few remaining democracies.
In the capital city of Dakar, scenes of chaos unfolded as riot police clashed with demonstrators, deploying tear gas and stun grenades to disperse crowds burning tires and hurling stones. The reported death of a student in Saint-Louis has intensified public outrage, with opposition figures denouncing the postponement as an “institutional coup.”
Protesters, waving Senegalese flags and chanting anti-government slogans, voiced their determination to challenge what they perceived as Sall’s authoritarian tendencies. Similar demonstrations erupted in various cities across Senegal, underscoring the widespread discontent over the electoral delay and its implications for democratic governance.
President Sall, citing a dispute over the candidate list, defended the decision to postpone the election as necessary to uphold the credibility of the electoral process. However, critics argue that the move is a calculated attempt to retain power beyond constitutional limits, drawing condemnation from regional blocs like Ecowas and foreign powers.
Despite government assertions of constitutional compliance, opposition lawmakers and presidential candidates have mounted legal challenges to the postponement. The uncertainty surrounding the electoral timeline and the ongoing protests highlight the deepening political crisis in Senegal, raising concerns about the country’s democratic trajectory and stability.