Senegal: Anti-Wade Protests Turn Deadly

By Staff Writer

DAKAR---Demonstrations in the Senegalese capital against last week’s court ruling that favoured President Abdoulaye Wade for a third term have turned violent, as reports claim over two deaths in the protests.

Thousands of opposition supporters clashed with the police in the centre of the capital, Dakar on Tuesday. Riot police fired tear gas and sprayed water cannons to protestors who had engaged police in running battles, burning tires and throwing stones in demand of President Wade to drop plans to seek a third term in the February polls.

In a demonstration organised under the opposition umbrella group M23, thousands of people had gathered at the city square late on Tuesday chanting slogans and waving signs before they were dispersed.

A 32-year-old university student is reported dead by a local private radio station after being run over by a police armoured-personnel carrier during the protest, which since has been confirmed by the police who denied responsibility. Another female protestor is also said to have died.

Earlier in the week, two people were shot dead during protests in a northern town of Podor prompting calls by international rights groups on the government to halt clampdown on protestors.

Wade’s candidacy has faced much criticism from the international community that the last week’s ruling could jeopardise the country’s long standing record of democracy and political stability. Senegal is the only mainland West African nation that has not witnessed coups since independence.

Last Friday, the constitutional court allowed the 85-year-old leader to seek a third term against 13 other rivals in the February 26 vote, dismissing on Sunday an appeal by the opposition to overturn the ruling.

Three of the opposition candidates including renowned musician Youssou N’dour have been barred to contest in the election by the court in what it termed as could not verify their candidacy.

Once seen as an icon of democracy, Wade came to power in 2000 ending country’s Socialist rule following 26 years in opposition where he had staged four unsuccessful presidential bids. He maintains the 2001 amendment pre-dated his first term and would start counting after his 2007 re-election, allowing him another chance in the upcoming vote.

Wade has dismissed opposition protests as “temper tantrums”, saying he needs three more years to complete his projects, even after being criticised for not doing much in his 12 years in power to alleviate country’s poverty.