[View the story "Political instability comes to Senegal " on Storify ]Political instability comes to Senegal
Protests and uncertainty rock West African nation
Storified by The Stream · Thu, Feb 23 2012 12:46:00
Flickr
Flickr
Senegal is holding presidential elections on Sunday. Dakar has been the scene of widespread protests, particularly in the wake of a constitutional court ruling allowing the current president to pursue a third term.
y'en a marrecheikhmams
The protests have been largely youth-driven, led by Mouvement 23, named after the 23 June protests last year, as well a group founded by Senegalese rappers known as Y'en a Marre ("We're fed up").
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Both groups have used Facebook to summon Senegalese to demand the departure of the country’s 85-year-old president Abdoulaye Wade. The group 'Y'en a Marre' aims to get their message across and raise youth awareness of what it calls is corruption, urban flooding and rolling power cuts.
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Under the constitution, the president is limited to two terms, which Wade has served. He has sought a third term on the grounds that his first term was completed before the term limit was instituted. Wade has said in the past that he would not seek a third term, as in the video from 2007 below.
Daily Clip.movajstream
M23 takes its name from the protests on June 23 in Dakar after Wade proposed a constitutional change that would have further enshrined his power.
Dakar Protests 1abirsasso
Rappers have increasingly played a growing role in the Senegalese political scene. The song "Coup 2 Gueule" directly accuses Wade of corruption and election fraud.
KEURGUI CREW "Coup 2 Gueule" (U.S version)keurgui2kaolack
Affiche électorale Abdoulaye Wade : "Le Sopi, il a marché jusqu'àààààà... fatigué" #senegal http://t.co/RA2UVx6cdomydom
Youssou NDour, a internationally known Senegalese musician, announced his candidacy in January, but was prohibited from running for not receiving enough signatures on his petition. Since then, he has remained active in the opposition, receiving an injury during protests on Tuesday. Godfrey Mwampembwa
IMG_3424boombastic plo
This cartoon by Godfrey Mwampembwa shows NDour's crossover from musician to candidate.
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A recent protest in Dakar calling for Wade to step down.
Worldbulletin
Senegal has long been one of Africa's most stable nations, not to experience a military coup and to successfully transfer power between parties. It is also one of the only countries in Africa ranked highly for press freedom.
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In recent years of Wade's rule, however, economic growth has stagnated and corruption has increased.
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Protests in Dakar have been broken up violently by police. Six people have died so far in the unrest.
Manifestation a la place de l'indépendance. la police disperse la foulebasilenianeful
hymne national #M23docboum
Marche à la place de l'indépendance Le dragon fonce sur les manifestantssenewebdirect
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Kilifeu, one of the rappers associated with Yen a Marre, was arrested during the protests over the weekend.
Rappers arrested at Senegal opposition protest
http://t.co/pIjoVGLO http://t.co/WprtSE7pmsnbcphotospxls
Solidarity protests by the Senegalese diaspora and others took place in front of Washington DC.
Senegalese Protest in Washington, DC_02_07_2012messay.com
The video below (in French) shows a member of Y'en a Marre discussing the nonviolent nature of the movement, saying that they are law-abiding, strive for peace and respect the police who support of the people. In this vein, a fellow member was quarantined for an act of violence against another member several weeks ago.
Fou Malade sanctionné par les siens qui appellent à la paixcarrapide
Translation: To the suburbs, all of Senegal is counting on you to raise hell so that Wade will understand
la banlieue tout le senegal compte sur vous foutez le bordel comme wade comprendra #sunu2012 #senegalLonelyNattySeydi
Translation: It appears Wade wants to negotiate. Let his family return all the stolen money first.
Il parait que Wade veut négocier. Que sa famille rende le fric volé d'abord. #Sunu2012Ba Hady
Translation: Whether or not Wade leaves before the 26th, we need all of the Senegalese to go to the voting booth
Que Wade parte avant le 26 ou pas il faut que les sénégalais partent aux urnes #senegal #sunu2012Assane Pathé dIOP
Translation: We will need to give Wade's staff courses on blogging: Twitter, the Anti-Wade platform?
Il faudrait donner des cours de #blogging au staff de Wade #Sénégal : Twitter, la voie anti-Wade ?
http://bit.ly/yvpt99 #kebetu #sunu2012Basile Niane
Translation: Never in the history of Senegal have presidential candidates been so mistreated. I'm disgusted.
Jamais dans l'histoire du #Senegal des candidats a une élection présidentielle ont été autant maltraités. Suis dégouté #sunu2012Cheikh Fall
Translation: Important to note: There is no political leader...only the youth and their determination to oust Wade
Important de le noter: Il n'y a aucun leader politique..les jeunes seuls face à leur détermination à faire partir Wade!! #Sunu2012 #SénégalOumy
