By Abdoulaye Diallo

Based on Abdoulaye Wade’s attitude since the beginning of the controversy around his third term candidacy, it is safe to say today that the Senegalese outgoing president is ready to confront adversity in any way, shape or form against his will to stay in power; this notwithstanding the popular outcry and the unethical and socially destabilizing ramifications of his candidacy. Many countries (USA, France, etc.) have, in one way or another, expressed their position against Wade’s wish on grounds of his old age (Wade is at least 85 years old, some say over 90), of his health issues and most importantly, because of growing allegations that Wade is laying the ground for a 'monarchical devolution' of the presidency to his own son Karim Wade whom he has allocated one-fourth of the Senegal’s national budget through his portfolio as a ‘Super Minister’ of International Cooperation, Air Transport, Infrastructure and also Energy. As people sarcastically say in Senegal, ‘Karim is the Minister of the sky, the air and the earth’. To justify his choice, Wade never misses an opportunity, in Senegal or abroad, to argue with unyielding confidence that he has never seen someone so smart, competent, and so efficient as his son.

Taken alone, the 13 opposition parties in Senegal are very weak in front of Wade’s party, the mighty state ruling PDS. This fact is at the basis of the strategic decision from opposition parties, civil society organizations and citizen movements to form a coalition around the M23 (Movement of the People’s forces of June 23). M23’s political strategy at this juncture consists of campaigning only against Wade’s third-term candidacy under the mutual consent that they will start their individual campaigns once Wade is out of the game. Although they often hold rallies together, M23 members go on their own from time to time to hold rallies based on their own programs. However, they come together and join forces for massive rallies whenever it is deemed necessary. It is worth noting that Youssou Ndour’s decision to join the opposition has been a determining factor in garnering national and international outcry and support against Wade’s attempts to remain in power. Youssou’s candidacy has been rejected by the Constitutional Court, the members of which are picked and controlled by Wade. Yet Youssou, who is still campaigning with the M23 as a member, seems to be the strongest threat to Wade along with respectively the candidates Macky Sall, Moustapha Niasse, Tanor Dieng, Idrissa Seck, Cheikh Bamba Dieye and Cheikh Tidjane Gadio.

In the face of Wade’s obstinacy to willy-nilly withhold the reigns of power, violence is likely to keep flaring up. As we speak, ten deaths have already been registered along with hundreds of injured citizens and a large scale collateral damage in the aftermath of the on-going situation. Something which citizens of this traditionally peaceful and democratic country are not used to. The Senegalese youth, gathered mainly through the Y'EN A MARRE!' (We are fed up!) civic movement has been as the forefront of the struggle. This non-violent and well organized youth movement led by rappers has proven to be very effective in mobilizing the people around their socio-political demands, their denunciations and readiness to democratically boot Wade out of power at the end of his second and last term. As it has been noted, Y'EN A MARRE! leaders are often subject to intimidation, threats, corruption attempts and even abusive arrests. Such was the case just yesterday, 16 February 2012, when Simon and Kilifeu, two among their main leaders were brutalized before being thrown in jail on grounds of insisting to hold a sit-in rally despite prohibition by the Minister of Interior Ousmane Ngom. The same day, over 20 other Y'EN A MARRE! Supporters went through the same trauma and are kept in different police stations around Dakar. Something which the rappers and their supporters see as a denial of their basic freedom of expression. As a result of the rappers’ arrest, much of the city of Dakar was besieged by young people burning tires and fighting against the police until late in the night. The Interior Minister of late has been rejecting many rally applications from the opposition on grounds that they constitute a danger to social stability. This stance from the State according to analysts constitutes a glaring contradiction toward the Senegalese Constitution which allows all political stakeholders and citizens to freely gather and communicate with their constituencies, especially during the electoral campaign period. The prohibitive approach of the State toward demonstrations, supposedly aiming at deterring the growing clashes seems to be counter-productive as it frustrates opposition campaigners in their attempts to express themselves. This is spawning even more clashes around the country which is likely to carry on through the week end and maybe beyond as we draw close to the election day of 26 February 2012.