Senegalese police have fired tear gas at opposition protesters demonstrating in the capital, Dakar, in the run-up to a crucial presidential election.
Several hundred people turned out yesterday in defiance of a government ban and attempted to reach the presidential palace before being blocked by a column of soldiers.
Riot police fired tear gas to disperse the protesters as they attempted to assemble for a banned march against President Abdoulaye Wade’s third-term candidacy in the February 26 polls.
Police pushed back groups of opposition protesters who attempted to converge in the suburb of Medina, later firing tear gas as they tried to begin the march to Independence Square in the heart of the city.
However, shortly afterwards at the square, where riot police had camped out since early morning, volleys of tear gas were fired to disperse scores of people who gathered there separately.
Someone had spraypainted “Wade Degage” [Get out Wade] on the street circling the square.
Senegal’s interior minister had said that the government has the right to “restrict such liberties through legal channels when there is a real threat to public order”.
Ousmane Ngom told the opposition in a statement sent before the planned march: “I inform you that the demonstrations you plan cannot happen at the foreseen date and place.”
In the message to leaders of the June 23 Movement [M23] the minister warned: “The administration will take all its responsibilities to ensure the safety of people and property.”
Before the ban was announced, Alioune Tine, an M23 co-ordinator, declared: “We are going to hold our march tomorrow, nobody can stop us. We condemn the Senegalese administration’s biased attitude. At this rate, it will end up being responsible for violence.”
Violent protests erupted in Dakar and spread through the country, leaving four people dead, on January 27, when the country’s highest court validated Wade’s candidacy for a third term which the opposition says is unconstitutional.
M23, which includes several presidential candidates, have pledged unity in pressuring Wade to step aside. However, their campaign of resistance has appeared to lose steam in recent days.
