Dakar, Senegal – Plateau, the downtown Dakar neighbourhood that’s dwelling to the nation’s Nationwide Meeting, was tense however quiet on Monday morning. Inside parliament, the meeting was something however.
Lawmakers have been debating on President Macky Sall’s announcement to postpone basic elections – initially scheduled for February 25 – for a further six months.
The announcement has left Fatou Djibril Ndour, 29, in disbelief.
“I’m among the many individuals who voted [for] Macky Sall in 2012 and 2019, however I remorse. This isn’t good for a rustic,” the waitress at a restaurant within the close by neighbourhood of Ouakam, tells Al Jazeera.
The choice to delay the vote has been controversial and has ignited protests within the capital, and put the police on excessive alert. The police fired tear gasoline at opposition supporters on Sunday and beat some with batons.
On Monday, the gendarmerie, or state police, confirmed up in numbers. Dozens of them in riot gear lined the streets all through the capital, with some serving to disperse a smaller rally outdoors parliament.
Anta Sarr, 31, a shopkeeper in Ouakam, says the heightened police presence is slowing down enterprise. “I battle to feed my household, and now, due to just some individuals, our shoppers are afraid to exit,” he says.
Earlier within the day, police tear-gassed protesters and opposition supporters who gathered close to the Nationwide Meeting. There have additionally been experiences of arrests and intimidation by police.
The correct to peacefully protest is assured within the structure, however the police are disbanding protests earlier than they start. Journalists say police have prevented them from filming, and legislation enforcement has threatened to confiscate tools.
The Ministry of Communication additionally shut down mobile web citing safety issues.
“Expensive prospects,” learn a textual content from cellphone supplier Orange, “By determination of the state, cell web is suspended by all operators.”
Worldwide watchdog Human Rights Watch warned actions like this are a part of a crackdown on opposition, media and civil society.
‘We’re at crossroads’
In opposition to this backdrop, prospects sat for afternoon espresso at a stand close to the Nationwide Meeting, discussing occasions taking place simply down the road in hushed tones.
“It’s not regular that only one particular person is making a violation of the structure,” says bystander Charles Leon Faye.
“[Sall] is just not the best particular person to make these sorts of choices,” he says. “Senegalese individuals should organise themselves. We have to organise ourselves to save lots of our nation [and] additionally to attempt to discover a answer to unravel these issues.”
It’s a essential second for the nation, says political analyst Ibrahima Kane.
“We’re at crossroads,” he tells Al Jazeera over the cellphone. “Both we cease this initiative coming from politicians who all the time wish to overrule, or the structure won’t have any worth.”
The tv audio from the parliamentary proceedings could be heard via the phone. Kane has been glued to the display screen all day. His cellphone has been buzzing with individuals eager to get his tackle the vote in parliament.
“You realize, our political system is simply going from unhealthy to worse,” he says.
“Any thought of postponement is unconstitutional. The structure forbids any modifications on the period of the time period, to scale back it, or to increase it – it’s not potential.”
In a store close to Dakar’s Mamelle neighbourhood, Cherif Coly appears to be like up on the retailer’s tv with a smile. The reside broadcast of parliamentary proceedings is below means. The arguments have gripped each workers and prospects.
However the 32-year-old, a crew member at Blaise Diagne Worldwide Airport is optimistic.
“That is good,” he says. “President Macky Sall desires to postpone the election so that everybody can take part,” he says. “There have been 41 [candidates] who weren’t allowed [on the ballot]. If the elections are postponed, they may have the ability to take part.”
Coly desires extra individuals on the poll, together with opposition candidates.
An inflexion level
Final month, the nation’s constitutional council launched a remaining checklist of electoral candidates that excluded opposition leaders Ousmane Sonko and Karim Wade, the son of former president Abdoulaye Wade.
The ultimate checklist contains Bassirou Diomaye Faye who was nominated by Sonko, in addition to Prime Minister Amadou Ba, who’s endorsed by President Sall.
Dakar’s former mayor, Khalifa Sall – who has no relation to Macky Sall – can be on the poll.
Wade served as a minister throughout his father’s tenure as head of state. The youthful Wade was sentenced to 6 years in jail in 2012 for corruption prices, fined $230m, and was accused of embezzling simply as a lot. He has denied these allegations, dismissing them as politically motivated.
In 2016, after serving half of his sentence, he was granted a presidential pardon.
The politician, who possessed twin Senegalese French citizenship, denounced his second nationality final month to make him eligible to run for workplace. Senegal’s constitutional court docket, nonetheless, mentioned he was a twin citizen when he submitted his paperwork, rendering him unqualified to run for workplace.
Coly hopes {that a} delay might give time for others to hitch the poll. He’s prepared to attend, he says, in order that the voters can select one of the best candidate.
“These elections are very particular as a result of we’ve got gasoline, we’ve got petrol, we’ve got different sources right here in Senegal,” he says. He desires a president who can handle these sources in addition to the nation’s funds.
“If the president is just not sturdy sufficient, individuals will lose [these resources],” he provides. “Should you have a look at international locations with pure sources, you’ve battle there. These international locations are usually not steady, so we’d like a president who’s going to battle for the nationwide sources as a result of it belongs to all Senegalese.”
Senegal is usually touted as a beacon of peace and stability within the area. However now, that legacy is within the palms of lawmakers who’ve introduced Senegal to an inflexion level, says Kane.
“Politicians are additionally residents of the nation. They aren’t above the structure, notably the President of the Republic, who’s the guarantor of the implementation of the structure.”