A coalition of Senegalese civil society organizations outlined a range of planned actions, including a demonstration and strike, on Thursday and called for widespread mobilization against the postponement of this month’s presidential election.
Advocates for President Macky Sall’s decision to push out the February 25 election to mid-December have caused the generally peaceful West African nation to descend into its worst political turmoil in decades.
The recently established platform Aar Sunu Election (Let’s defend our election) released a statement saying, “We invite all citizens concerned by the preservation of democratic gains to mobilize en masse throughout the country and in the diaspora to prevent this seizure of power.”
About forty civic, religious, and professional organizations—among them, multiple school unions—are part of the collective.
One of the platform’s coordinators, Malick Diop, told reporters in Dakar that “a major demonstration is planned for Tuesday.”
A demand for a nationwide strike on an undisclosed date and a walkout in the education sector starting on Friday were also highlighted by the event’s speakers.
The platform encouraged Muslims to fly the national flag and wear white to Friday prayers.
The call is made while emergency meetings between West African foreign ministers and Nigeria’s capital, Abuja, are taking place to resolve Senegal’s political issue.
Senegal, one of the more stable members of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), has been advised to adhere to its election schedule ahead of Thursday’s meeting. However, detractors have already questioned the group’s authority over progressively more rebellious member nations.
