Riots Blamed on Senegal President's Refusal to Discuss Mandate

On Monday, June 5, 2023, Senegal's capital city Dakar returned to relative calm after four days of protests and violence. While the presidential camp blames the protesters, the opposition has denounced what it describes as an "abuse of power".

Former prime minister Idrissa Seck is calling on President Macky Sall to clarify his intentions for the February 2024 poll, to avoid more violence.

At least 16 people are known to have died in the clashes between demonstrators and security forces in Dakar, and in Zinguinchor in the region of Casamance, in the south of the country.

According to Seck - who was the head of the Economic, Social and Environmental Council in Senegal until late April 2023 - only Sall's clear indication that he will not run for a third term will appease the Senegalese people, especially young people.

In April, Seck announced that he intends to run for president in Senegal's next election. He is taking part in the "national dialogue", opened by President Sall on June 1, 2023, which most of the other opposition parties are boycotting. The Economic Community of West African States, ECOWAS, neighbour Gambia and the U.S. have all expressed concern at the situation in Senegal.

InFocus

Protesters run from tear gas in Dakar, Senegal, March 30, 2023.

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