Senegal's security forces clashed with demonstrators on Friday amid continued discontent over the postponement of presidential elections.
Police in riot gear fired tear gas, stun grenades and rubber bullets in an attempt to prevent protesters from reaching Dakar's Place de la Nation.
According to AFP news agency, a student protesting against the postponement of the election was killed in clashes in which demonstrators threw stones at police and set fire to tires.
The presidential election, scheduled for February 25, was postponed until December by President Macky Sall.
“We are ready to give our lives.”
Some demonstrators were seen holding placards with slogans such as “Macky Sall is a dictator.”
“We are ready to give our lives to free our people so that Senegal can get rid of Macky Sall,” one demonstrator told Reuters.
“The situation is deplorable. I came to pray and was sent to the gas chamber. I can't stand it,” Tierno Alassán Sal, one of 20 candidates scheduled to run for president, told AFP. That's it. Senegalese must express their anger. On social media.”
Unexpected election delay sparks unrest
Sall announced the postponement of the election on February 3, citing an alleged dispute between parliament and the Constitutional Council over candidates who were not allowed to take part in the vote. .
Sall had insisted he would not run for another term as president of Senegal in July 2023, and the decision to postpone the election was seen as an “unconstitutional coup” to maintain power.
Despite inviting criticism from the United States and the European Union, Congress supported the president's call on Monday, but only after security forces stormed the chamber and removed some opposition lawmakers who were unable to vote. there were.
Access to mobile data networks has been blocked since early Monday morning, which also sparked protests.
km/sms (AFP, Reuters)
