Summary
Senegal’s main opposition coalition, Liberate the People (Yewwi Askan Wi, YAW) organized several demonstrations across Senegal in the month of June. YAW supporters are protesting a Constitutional Court ruling that invalidated the coalition’s national party candidate list for the upcoming legislative elections on July 31. Some of these protests have turned violent, and YAW leadership is calling for further demonstrations. Security managers should note the growing political tensions in Senegal and prepare for further demonstrations, which may impact private-sector operations and logistics.
Opposition Protesting Court Ruling
Senegal’s parliament is host to multiple parties, none with the ability to garner a majority of seats on its own. For this reason, parties band together in coalitions in an effort to form a government, with parties maintaining their identity in the long term but running together in the name of short-term coalitions.
On June 3, Senegal’s Constitutional Council upheld a Directorate General of Elections decision to declare the national candidate lists of the main opposition coalition inadmissible, based on administrative technicalities. This ruling means that main opposition leader and mayor of Ziguinchor, Ousmane Sonko, among other leading opposition candidates, can no longer participate in parliamentary elections on July 31. In January, opposition candidates had successfully ousted ruling party incumbents in the mayoral elections in Dakar and Ziguinchor, indicating the opposition’s growing popularity over ruling party incumbents and threatening to topple the ruling coalition, Together for an Emerging Senegal (Benno Bokk Yaakaar, BBY) in July’s legislative elections.
The ruling did not only affect the opposition, though; candidacies of select ruling party coalition representatives were also invalidated, though leading BBY politicians were not affected. YAW reacted to the ruling by calling on supporters across the country to protest on June 8, leading to a series of protests throughout the month of June.
On June 8, thousands of opposition supporters gathered at Place de la Nation wearing Senegal’s national colors and carrying signs calling for the “liberation of Senegal’s democracy.” During the protests, Sonko declared President Macky Sall YAW’s “enemy” and said that there will be no elections if YAW’s national candidate list remained invalid. Sonko also called for further demonstrations on June 17. Authorities rejected this proposal for demonstrations, citing “threats of public disorder” and electoral code prohibitions against “political propaganda” in the 30 days preceding the official campaign period, which begins on July 10. YAW leaders rejected the claim that protests would lead to public disorder, citing the peaceful nature of the June 8 protests.
YAW leaders insisted on carrying out their plan for demonstrations despite the lack of official approval; on June 17, thousands of YAW supporters demonstrated in Dakar and Ziguinchor, leading to clashes between police and protestors in both locations. Police reportedly used tear gas to subdue crowds throwing stones and burning tires. There were at least three fatalities nationwide and dozens of arrests, including several YAW politicians and opposition activists.
Following the June 17 demonstrations, Sonko called for additional demonstrations on June 20. In the peaceful June 20 demonstrations, YAW encouraged supporters to make noise by honking car horns and banging pots and pans in unison throughout the country at 8:00pm.
Sonko has now called for additional mass demonstrations on June 29, which he declared will occur with or without government authorization.
Reasons to Expect Escalation
Private-sector organizations operating in Senegal should expect further YAW protests this month and likely through elections on July 31. The deaths of three protestors during the June 17 protest have escalated tensions between YAW and ruling party coalition supporters, with Sonko declaring the deaths are “the sole and exclusive responsibility of Macky Sall,” and that they “will not go unpunished.” Sonko has also declared that he will join the protests on June 29, despite being barricaded in his home by police during previous protests, claiming the president will have to “arrest me, or he will have to kill me.” Protests in Senegal in March 2021 escalated significantly after Sonko was arrested on rape charges; ten protestors died during those demonstrations. If Sonko is arrested or harmed, it is very likely that protests will escalate and turn violent.
Because YAW and Sonko have insisted on organizing protests despite lacking government authorization, the opposition will likely continue to organize protests through the elections on July 31, and potentially following the elections as well. Continued demonstrations do not necessarily mean the situation will escalate into violence. Bar escalating factors like further protestor deaths or an arrest of Sonko, demonstrations may remain peaceful, though logistically disruptive to private-sector operations in Senegal.
It is unlikely that authorities will reinstate YAW’s candidate list or allow Sonko to participate in the elections. However, if further court rulings declare YAW’s national candidate list admissible, demonstrations may cease, increasing the likelihood of peaceful elections.
Previous Threats to the Private Sector
YAW similarly organized mass protests in Senegal in March 2021, after Sonko was arrested on rape charges. From March 4-6, demonstrations in Dakar, Saint Louis, Diourbel, Thies, Ziguinchor, and Bignona grew, supported by opposition and youth groups as demonstrators called for Sonko’s release. Demonstrations became violent as protestors clashed with security forces in downtown Dakar at the University of Cheikh Anta Diop, and in the Yoff and Medina neighborhoods.
As protests continued March 5, large groups of rioters – sparked by the political marches but not coordinated with them – roamed the streets of many Dakar neighborhoods, clashing with security forces, setting up barricades, and looting businesses. Some protesters defaced or destroyed French-owned or -associated businesses as a reflection of what they see as France’s neo-colonial power over Senegal. Social media posts showed several French-owned Auchan grocery stores and Total gas stations destroyed during the protests.
The June 2022 protests have not resulted in riots or targeting of French businesses, but the 2021 protests illustrate how demonstrations can quickly transform into riots. Underlying anti-French sentiment in Senegal could lead to similar instances of protestors-turned-rioters targeting French-owned or -associated establishments.
Private-Sector Impact
Private-sector organizations operating in Senegal should be aware of ongoing protests and expect unrest to continue through the elections. Security managers should monitor local news for reports of future planned protests, arrests of opposition leaders, and other government or opposition leader announcements that may escalate protests.
Review OSAC’s report, Preparing for Election Violence.
During protests, encourage employees to work from home if possible. Employees should also identify alternative travel routes for any essential travel in case of demonstrations or road closures. Avoid all demonstrations, since even peaceful gatherings can quickly turn violent.
Prepare employees for the potential of violence throughout the election cycle by developing an emergency preparedness plan. Ensure employees know emergency contact numbers and understand how to communicate with your organization in case of an emergency. Have employees submit travel notifications to local security managers before travel outside of their normal work areas and identify rally points in case of separation from other travelers. Encourage employees to enroll in the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) to receive security alerts from the U.S. Embassy.
Private-sector organizations operating in Senegal should also prepare for logistics challenges associated with demonstrations and the July 31 elections. Prepare for potential road and local business closures during the elections and during demonstrations, which may continue after Election Day. Voting results may take several days to announce and could be contested by candidates and parties. Prepare for the potential of continued political tensions following the elections.
Additional Information
For more information on the security environment in Senegal and across Africa, contact OSAC’s Africa team.
