Senegal protesters vow to block third term for president

People power forces Abdoulaye Wade to abandon constitutional changes smoothing his re-election path Anti-government protesters in Senegal vowed to intensify their campaign to block President Abdoulaye Wade from standing in next year’s election after street demonstrations forced him to back down over constitutional changes. The capital Dakar was calm on Friday after violence on Thursday prompted Wade to abandon proposed changes to election law that appeared designed to smooth his path to re-election in February 2012. The protests, which saw more than 100 people injured, energised his vocal but mostly disorganised opponents, and may herald a turbulent run-up to the election in a country that has been spared the strife of others in west Africa. “The battle that was won does not put an end to our fight to restore law and order … and legitimacy,” leaders of Don’t Touch My Constitution!, the campaign group which led the protests, said in a statement. “One last battle remains: to make sure … Wade does not try and impose his candidacy in 2012. This would be illegal, illegitimate, inopportune and dangerous for the stability of Senegal and the sub-region.” After years in opposition, Wade came to power in 2000 and is coming to the end of his second term. His supporters say constitutional changes in 2001 mean the first term did not count, so he is eligible to stand next year’. This, and the election law ploy, angered many in a country that has enjoyed decades of peace but where basic services like water and electricity remain poor in sprawling neighbourhoods, while an elite appear to prosper. “The people have taken back power” read a headline on Friday in the newspaper Le Populaire. In an editorial, private newspaper Walfadjiri said the protests were an unprecedented show of anger against the president. “(Wade) can no longer count on the apathy of the armchair opponents to modify the laws of the country as he wishes,” the newspaper said. The Benno Siggil Senegal opposition coalition, which has struggled to build a united position against Wade, is to insist he does not stand next year. Senegal has become an increasingly important regional hub for business and international organisations. It is a strategic partner for western nations in a turbulent region. J Peter Pham, director of the Ansari Africa Centre at the Atlantic Council think tank, said Wade had disappointed after coming to power with “extraordinary promise”. “His stubbornness and rather blatant attempt to foist a dynasty on the Senegalese people may well prove the ruination of a wonderful country if he gets the third term that he himself declared unconstitutional just a few years ago,” Pham said. Aside from trying to reduce from 50% to 25% the minimum needed to win in the first round, Wade had sought to introduce the role of vice-president, which critics said might have been filled by his powerful and unpopular son, Karim. Top donors the EU and the US issued public statements of concern this week over the planned constitutional changes, saying they needed broader public debate. A senior international business executive said companies were watching the situation closely, in the context of uprisings in North Africa. “It is business as usual today … But things could get nasty if (the opposition) pushes on that (Wade’s candidacy).” Senegal Africa Protest guardian.co.uk

Posted by on June 24, 2011. Filed under News, Politics, World News. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can skip to the end and leave a response. Pinging is currently not allowed.