Mobile data cut in Senegal to prevent street protests

In a written statement from the Ministry of Communication, it was announced that mobile data was temporarily suspended to prevent hate messages that could disrupt public order on social media and to forestall potential street protests.

Meanwhile, discussions continue in the National Assembly regarding a bill submitted on Friday by the Senegalese Democratic Party (PDS), the party of Karim Wade, whose presidential candidacy was blocked, proposing a 6-month postponement of the elections.

It is considered certain that the PDS and the ruling coalition Benno Bokk Yakaar deputies will secure a sufficient majority to pass the bill through parliament.

The bill, submitted on Friday, contains two articles that foresee postponing the election—which was deemed "unconstitutional"—to August 25, and allowing current President Macky Sall to remain in office until his successor is determined.

Sall, who has served two consecutive terms and nominated Prime Minister Amadou Ba as his successor in this election, was normally expected to leave office on April 2.

EDUCATION SUSPENDED

Following President Sall's announcement that the election had been postponed, various street protests took place yesterday in the capital, Dakar, and some opposition presidential candidates were briefly detained.

Today, security forces used tear gas to intervene against a crowd that wanted to gather around the National Assembly during the bill's discussions.

Intensive security measures taken on many main streets and important routes in Dakar drew attention. Some schools suspended education for security reasons, and motorcycles were banned from traffic until midnight.

CALL FROM RELIGIOUS LEADERS

After the postponement decision, which was met with great reaction in the country, religious leaders also stepped in.

Dakar Archbishop Benjamin Ndiaye, in a statement to a television channel, expressed his great surprise at the postponement decision and emphasized that institutions and the Constitution must be respected.

The Union of Imams and Preachers of Senegal (LIPS) also stated in a press release that President Sall's decision to postpone the election contradicts the Constitution, and demanded that Sall "stop this institutional coup and continue the election process."

FRENCH CITIZENSHIP CAUSES TURMOIL

A serious crisis has been ongoing for the last few days in Senegal between the National Assembly and the Constitutional Council, which determines the list of candidates for the presidential election.

The candidacy of Karim Wade, son of former President Abdoulaye Wade, was not accepted by the Constitutional Council due to his late renunciation of French citizenship.

Wade's renunciation of French citizenship was published in the French official gazette on January 17, and the Constitutional Council shared the final list of candidates with the public on January 21.

The exclusion of Wade, who was considered one of the strongest candidates in the election, was met with reaction by many circles, especially his party.

While there were comments in the public sphere that Wade was "unfairly" sidelined, the revelation that a candidate named Rose Wardini, who was approved by the Constitutional Council, was also a French citizen strengthened the criticisms.

Following this, the competence of the Constitutional Council began to be questioned in many circles, especially by Wade's party, the Senegalese Democratic Party (PDS), and bribery allegations were raised against some judges.

On the other hand, Wardini was referred to the prosecutor's office on a series of charges, including deceiving the court and forgery of official documents, for hiding her French citizenship from the Constitutional Council.

According to the Constitution, one must hold only Senegalese citizenship to be a presidential candidate in Senegal.

INVESTIGATION COMMISSION ESTABLISHED

As a result of the debates that started with Wardini being able to be a candidate despite her French citizenship, a vote was held in parliament on February 2 to establish a commission to investigate the Constitutional Council, upon the initiative of the PDS.

The proposal to establish the commission was accepted with 120 "yes" votes against 24 "no" votes.

The Parliamentary Investigation Commission will examine the decisions of the Constitutional Council, corruption allegations against some judges in the council, and the conditions that led to the non-approval of Wade's candidacy.

News Source: AA