Avast ye! 3 scallywags, one be a young matey, met Davy Jones' locker by the hands of security forces, whilst Senegal's election protests stormed on.
2024-02-13
Arrr, three souls be sent to Davy Jones' locker, includin' a young matey of 16 summers, as Senegalese scallywags clashed wi' protesters o'er their cursed delayed election.
In a statement released by Amnesty International, it was revealed that security forces in Senegal have killed at least three people, including a 16-year-old boy, during recent protests. The demonstrations were held in opposition to the president's decision to postpone elections. The crackdown took place in Dakar, as well as the cities of Saint-Louis and Ziguinchor. Landing Camara, the 16-year-old victim, was shot in the head. Another protest was planned for Tuesday evening, but organizers stated that it had not been authorized by the authorities.In response to the protests, the Senegalese government cut off access to mobile internet services, claiming that "hateful and subversive" messages were being circulated online. President Macky Sall had postponed the elections, originally scheduled for late February, citing the need to resolve controversies over disqualified candidates and a conflict between the government's legislative and judicial branches. The parliament voted to delay the elections until December 15, pending a ruling from the Constitutional Council.
The postponement has raised concerns both regionally and internationally about the stability of Senegal, which has been considered one of West Africa's most democratic countries. The United Nations expressed deep concern over the situation and called for independent investigations into the killings of protesters. The UN's spokesperson for human rights emphasized the importance of respecting human rights, including freedom of expression and peaceful assembly. The government has proposed a national dialogue, which could begin as early as this week, but warned that the country is in a fragile moment and called for caution from political actors.
In an effort to address the situation, the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) initiated a three-day parliamentary diplomatic mission to Senegal to discuss the ongoing tensions.