Thousands of opposition supporters gathered in the streets of Dakar, the capital of Senegal, to protest against President Macky Sall’s possible third-term ambition. The rally, which took place on Thursday, May 11th, saw people from different walks of life come together to voice their opposition to what they see as an attempt to undermine democracy in the West African country.
President Sall, who was elected in 2012 and re-elected in 2019, is constitutionally barred from running for a third term. However, there are rumors that he is planning to change the constitution to extend his stay in power. The opposition says that this would be a violation of the country’s democratic principles and would set a dangerous precedent for the region.
The rally was organized by a coalition of opposition parties, civil society groups, and religious leaders, who have been calling for a united front against President Sall’s third-term ambitions. Many of the protesters were waving placards with slogans such as “No to a third term” and “Our democracy is not for sale.”
One of the protesters, 35-year-old Fatou Sarr, said she was there to defend her country’s democracy. “We cannot allow our leaders to manipulate the constitution for their own benefit. We need to show them that we will not stand idly by and let them do as they please.”
Another protester, 57-year-old Cheikh Diop, said he had come to the rally to demand accountability from the government. “We need leaders who will work for the people, not for themselves. We need leaders who will be accountable to us, the citizens of this country.”
The rally was peaceful, with no reports of violence or clashes with the police. However, the opposition leaders warned that they would step up their campaign if President Sall persists in his bid for a third term.
Senegal has long been seen as a beacon of democracy in West Africa, with a long tradition of peaceful transitions of power. However, many fear that President Sall’s possible third-term ambition could undermine the country’s democratic credentials and lead to unrest.
The rally shows that there is still a strong commitment among the Senegalese people to defend their democracy and hold their leaders accountable. It remains to be seen whether President Sall will heed their calls and respect the constitution, or whether the country will descend into a political crisis.
