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| Africa Subsaharan |
| Senegal opposition urges more 'resistance' after riots |
| 2012-01-29 |
| [Pak Daily Times] Senegal ... a nation of about 14 million on the west coast of Africa bordering Mauretania to the north, Mali to the east, and a pair of Guineas to the south, one of them Bissau. It is 90 percent Mohammedan and has more than 80 political parties. Its primary purpose seems to be absorbing refugees... 's opposition called on Saturday for more 'resistance' against President Abdoulaye Wade, after a night of riots over his plans to run for a third term in elections next month. Local media reported that one policeman was killed during the riots, in which protesters threw rocks, overturned cars and burned tyres and security forces fired tear gas, raising worries of growing instability in West Africa's most peaceful nation. Calm had returned to the capital Dakar by morning and security boosted around the presidential palace. Truckloads of police in full riot gear patrolled the city, armed with tear gas grenade launchers, according to a Rooters witness. "We are asking the people to remain alert and to resist Abdoulaye Wade," Abdoul Aziz Diop, the front man for opposition activist movement M23 told Rooters by telephone on Saturday. "If Wade tries to impose himself on us ... we will resist." He said that opposition figures and activist leaders were meeting on Saturday to discuss their next steps. The festivities came after Senegal's top legal body late on Friday night validated the candidacy of 85-year-old Wade and 13 rivals for the Feb. 26 vote, but turned down the presidential bid of world music star Youssou N'Dour, saying he did not have the required 10,000 signatures of support. Wade's rivals say the constitution sets an upper limit of two terms on the president. But Wade, who came to power in 2000 and was re-elected in 2007, has argued his first term pre-dated the 2001 amendment establishing the limit. Wade appeared on state television ... and if you can't believe state television who can you believe? late on Friday and made an appeal for calm, promising elections would be free and fair. "Stop these displays of petulance which will lead to nothing," he said. "The electoral campaign will be open. There will be no restrictions on freedom." Senegal is the only country in mainland West Africa to have not had a coup since the end of the colonial era. February's poll, and a possible run-off a few weeks later, are seen as a test of social cohesion in the predominantly Moslem country. Critics say that Wade, who spent 26 years in opposition to Socialist rule, has done nothing during his 12 years in power to alleviate poverty in a country where formal employment is scarce, and has dragged his heels on tackling official graft. Wade points to spending on education and infrastructure projects such as roadbuilding as proof of progress towards turning Senegal into an emerging market country and a trade hub. His candidacy has raised eyebrows abroad. The senior US State Department official for Africa, William Fitzgerald, told French RFI radio that Wade's candidacy was "a bit regrettable". Rival presidential hopeful Amsatou Sow Sidibe called on Wade to withdraw his candidacy voluntarily. "Peace and tranquility in Senegal depends on it," she told. |
| Posted by:Fred |