Democracy News

Senegalese President’s Third-Term Bid Sparks Protest
February 2, 2012
By: Rebecca Aaberg | Printer Friendly

The June 23 Movement (M23) protests in Senegal against President Abdoulaye Wade’s third term bid turned violent on January 31, leaving one demonstrator dead, BBC reported.  The protests are a continuation of riots that began after a court ruled that Wade could run for a third term.  Wade took office in 2000, before constitutional limits on presidential terms were put into place. The court ruling considers Wade’s current term to be the first presidential term served under the new limit.  The court discounted the 2000 term, which allowed Wade to put in his bid for the upcoming race.  According to the Washington Post, Cheikh Seringne Ndiaye, a spokesman for Wade, responded to the protestors’ reaction to the presidential bid: “It was never our intention in any way to violate the constitution of our country.”  

The protests on January 31 were preceded by an M23 protest on January 27, which resulted in the stoning of a police officer and the arrest of opposition leader and human rights activist Alioune Tine.  The arrest has sparked further demonstrations from supporters of Tine, the president of Rencontre Africaine de droits de l’Homme (RADDHO).  Tine was released after more than 48 hours of detention.  Recording artist Youssou N’Dour has called Wade’s re-election bid part of a “constitutional coup d’état,” Democracy Digest reported.  According to AFP, some opposition contenders for the presidency such as Tine and N’Dour have been barred from running in the upcoming election, but the council has approved main opposition leader Ousmane Tanor Dieng and 12 other candidates.

Wade has attracted criticism from members of the opposition over his expansion of presidential power while in office.  The Los Angeles (LA) Times reported that in 2008, the presidential term length was extended from five to seven years.  The president now also chooses about two-thirds of senators, and election reforms implemented during Wade’s presidency allow candidates to win with only 25 percent of the vote. It was also reported that in 2011, “Wade tried to create the position of vice president, a job that critics believed was a stepping stone for his son.”  When the opposition protested what they interpreted as a line of succession, Wade responded by withdrawing the attempt to add a vice presidency. 

The international community responded unfavorably to Wade’s bid for re-election.  United States (US) Deputy Secretary of State William Burns warned that Wade’s attempt threatens political stability in Senegal. US State Department spokesperson Victoria Nuland added: “While we respect the process… our message to him remains the same: that the statesmanly-like thing to do would be to cede to the next generation. And we think that would be better.”  Democracy Digest reported that a US official advised Wade to pursue a different path.  Re-election and the corresponding violence could “jeopardize the decades-long record that Senegal has built up on the continent for democracy, democratic development, and political stability.”

Elections in Senegal are scheduled for February 26.  According to the BBC, Amadou Sall, the campaign spokesman for Wade, has urged citizens to vote if they do not want Wade in office.  AFP reported that despite the protests, the M23 has stated the movement will not boycott the elections.

For more news on Senegal, please see:
Riots in Senegal Force President to Drop Proposed Constitutional Changes

Sources:         
AFP – Senegal Police Fire Tear Gas to Break-Up Anti-Wade Rally

BBC – Senegal Anti-Wade Protest: One Demonstrator Dies

Democracy Digest – Senegalese Protest “Constitutional Coup”

Los Angeles Times – Why is Senegal—an African Success Story—Becoming Unstable?

Washington Post – Security Forces Open Fire on Senegal Election Protest, Killing 2 as Political Conflict Deepens