Senegal: Opposition Demonstration Planned for June 17 Banned by Dakar Prefect

In Senegal, the rally planned for Friday, June 17, 2022, at Place de la Nation, by the opposition coalition Yewwi Askan Wi, was banned by the prefect of Dakar. In his order made public on Wednesday, June 15, Prefect Mor Talla Tine invokes two reasons: threats of disturbances to public order and violation of Article L61 of the Electoral Code, an article which prohibits any disguised propaganda during the 30 days preceding the official opening of the campaign.

Since the Constitutional Council invalidated a national list of candidates from the opposition coalition Yewwi Askan Wi, the tone has continued to rise in the Senegalese political class. This invalidation has in fact excluded the leader of the opposition, Ousmane Sonko, and other political leaders from the race.

For the opposition Ousmane Sonko, mayor of Ziguinchor, Friday's rally will indeed take place. The opposition denounces a ploy by the presidency to sideline its opponents.