Tag Archives: Macky Sall

Regional

Senegal: Opposition leader Sonko to face rape trial

Maravi Post Reporter

The opposition leader in Senegal, Ousmane Sonko is to face trial on charges of rape, an investigating judge has said.

The case has now been referred to Senegal’s criminal chamber for trial. Sonko is also facing trial for making death threats to a beauty salon employee in 2021.

Sonko is accused of sexually assaulting the woman who worked in a massage parlour and later threatening her.

The opposition leader has denied all the charges though as he becomes the latest political figure to be face criminal charges.

Sonko’s supporters say the case is an attempt by Senegal’s President Macky Sall, 61, to remove a potentially popular rival should he decides to seek a third term.

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Sall’s second term ends in 2024 but he has not said whether he will run for a third term.

Should the trial progress it could jeopardize Sonko’s intention to compete in the 2024 presidential election.

The 48-year-old politician came third in the 2019 election and had announced he will run.

When he was summoned by the investigating judge and subsequently arrested in March 2021, clashes broke out in the country.

Sonko’s lawyer El Hadj Diouf, told Reuters that his client was delighted by the judge’s decision.

“It does not come as a surprise. We have nothing to hide,” he was quoted as saying.

Senegal: 4 killed amid protests over arrest of opposition leader

Source: Africafeeds.com

Source: Africa Feeds

Regional

Senegal: National mourning declared after bus crash kills 40

Maravi Post Reporter

Senegal is observing three days of National Day of Mourning starting on Monday following the death of at least 40 people.

They were killed in central Senegal after two buses collided on Sunday. About 80 were wounded in the crash as well.

President Macky Sall said in statement that he was “profoundly saddened” by the accident and announced three days of mourning.

The crash is one of the deadliest in the West African country’s recent memory.

The accident occurred after the tyre of one passenger bus burst, sending it into the path of another bus coming in the opposite direction, local prosecutors said.

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Footage from the scene shared online showed two white buses, their mangled fronts entwined. Debris was strewn across the narrow road.

Road accidents are common in Senegal, where large trucks and buses, often decades old, overburdened and listing, hurtle down two-lane highways pitted and rutted by overuse.

In 2017, two buses collided, killing 25 people, including some heading to a religious festival.

Many African countries have recorded a surge in road carnages amid poorly maintained roads and vehicles. Driver errors also often contribute to the accidents.

Analysts have expressed worry over the spate of road accidents especially over the festive season.

At least 16 people were killed in an accident last week in the Ugandan capital of Kampala.

In Ivory Coast also at least 14 people died with dozens others sustaining injuries last week after two buses collided on the outskirts of Ivory Coast’s capital, Yamoussoukro.

Six young Ghanaian footballers die in car accident

Source: Africafeeds.com

Source: Africa Feeds

Regional

Senegal’s president under pressure not to seek third term

Maravi Post Reporter

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Senegalese president Macky Sall is coming under intense pressure not to seek a third term in office.

Mr. Sall was elected in 2012 and re-elected in 2019 for a second term but he hasn’t yet made it public and emphatic whether he will seek another term or exit the presidency.

The Constitution stipulates that a president cannot serve more than two consecutive terms and should he run again in 2024 that would violate that stipulation.

But several individuals in the president’s camp are pushing the idea of a third term, citing the 2016 constitutional revision which they say resets the clock for Sall.

With Macky Sall keeping his intentions vague, the opposition in the West African nation is promising a fierce resistance if he takes the step.

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This week several Senegalese organisations urged President Macky Sall to dispel any doubts and openly declare that he would not run for his own succession in 2024.

According to them any attempt to run again could spread “chaos” in Senegal.

In a statement human rights, and democracy organisations stressed the consequences of forcing for a third term which have been “particularly tragic”.

They referred to precedents in Guinean, saying Senegal must “avoid a scenario of chaos”.

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“To avoid such a catastrophe, the consequences of which could be even more dramatic than those of 2012, we invite you, Mr President, to make an open declaration to remove any ambiguity,” they write.

“The limitation of mandates to two is unequivocal and definitively anchored in the fundamental law,” they noted.

In 2012, Abdoulaye Wade’s candidacy for a third term of office provoked violence that left several people dead. The NGOs point out that Mr Sall had fought against the third mandate, a struggle in which he was the “main beneficiary”.

We “solemnly invite you not to present your candidacy for the presidential election of 2024, out of respect for the word given and out of respect for the clear and unequivocal interpretation that you have always given to our Constitution,” they say.

The African countries facing visa ban from the United Arab Emirates

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Source: Africa Feeds

Regional

AU chairman calls for lifting of sanctions on Zimbabwe

Maravi Post Reporter
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The African Union chairman and president of Senegal President Macky Sall has called for the lifting of sanctions placed on Zimbabwe.

Mr. Sall told the 77th UN General Assembly in New York that current sanctions against Zimbabwe were destructive and aggravating the suffering of citizens.

For over two decades Zimbabwe has struggled to rebuild its economy and sanctions have been blamed largely for this.

The US and the European Union (EU) have maintained sanctions on Zimbabwe. They both cite a lack of progress in democratic and human rights reforms as well as restrictions on press freedoms as reasons for maintaining the sanctions.

The sanctions have targeted specific individuals including President Emmerson Mnangagwa and some companies.

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Last year the Chairperson of the African Union Commission Moussa Faki Mahamat also called for the removal of sanctions imposed on Zimbabwe.

Zimbabweans led by their president, Emmerson Mnangagwa in 2019 embarked on a march to demand an end to foreign sanctions.

The government launched that campaign to make unpopular what it considered at the time foreign sanctions that have crippled the economy.

Government officials including the President insisted that sanctions particularly from the United States of America have made it impossible for any major progress to be achieved in growing and rebuilding the Zimbabwean economy.

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Source: Africafeeds.com

Source: Africa Feeds

Regional, Sports

Senegal President declares public holiday after AFCON win

Maravi Post Reporter

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Senegal’s President Macky Sall has declared Monday a public holiday to celebrate the senior national football team’s win at the Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon).

The team on Sunday evening beat Egypt on penalties to win the 2021 edition of the competition held in Cameroon.

Sadio Mane of Senegal started the game with a penalty miss but scored the decisive spot kick as Senegal win 4-2 on penalties.

The victory is their first ever Africa Cup of Nations title, denying Mohamed Salah’s Egypt of another title.

Senegal have not only won their first ever Africa Cup of Nations in their 16th participation in the tournament but they have become the 15th different nation to win the competition.

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The president of Senegal, who was in Ethiopia where he attended the just ended African Union Summit, assuming the role as chair of the union, cancelled the last leg of his trip to welcome back the football stars to Senegal on Monday.

President Sall is expected to award the team on Tuesday at the presidential palace, according to public broadcaster RTS television.

Senegal won their first Afcon final after two previous defeats in finals in 2019 and 2002.

There have been wild jubilation all over Senegal by football fans extending deep into the night on Sunday.

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Senegal beat Egypt to win AFCON 2021 title

Source: Africafeeds.com

Source: Africa Feeds

Regional

Senegal’s opposition urges more protests against President Sall

Maravi Post Reporter

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Senegal’s main opposition leader, Ousmane Sonko has called for more protests against President Macky Sall after he was released from detention.

<

p dir=”auto”>He was charged with rape in court on Monday and then released on bail amid clashes between his supporters and security officials.

Sonko who was addressing his supporters lashed out at President Sall whom he accuses of being behind the rape charges he is now facing.

The opposition leader is accused of assaulting a woman who worked in a beauty salon, but he has denied the claim.

Amnesty International says at least eight people have died since the violence broke out last week in Senegal’s capital, Dakar.

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But the protests have gone beyond just an agitation over the arrest of Sonko with young people expressing anger at the economic situation in country.

They have called for economic reforms, provision of quality health care among others.

Protesters are fast coming from all parts of the country and various groups of individuals including women, young and older people.

Sonko has called for “much larger” anti-government demonstrations, but urged that they be peaceful.

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President Macky Sall has also for the first time spoken about the protests saying on state broadcast that he understood why young people were on the streets.

Sall said it was because they “don’t have a job, because you aspire to a better future,” as he pledges more funding for employment and entrepreneurship programs.

The President said he will “support a return to calm,” as the protests begin to mount pressure on him.

Macky Sall has been president for nine years but has been criticized by many for doing little to stop the protests and related deaths.

Some citizens also have concerns he wants to extend his current second term stay in power by seven years instead of mandated five years and even seek a third term in office.

But Sonko who placed third in the 2019 presidential elections is considered a strong contender for the scheduled 2024 vote.

His message of greater economic independence for Senegal has attracted a wider audience amid the financial hardships of the COVID-19 pandemic, curfews and other movement restrictions.

The protests in Senegal are not just about a rape charge

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Regional

The protests in Senegal are not just about a rape charge

Maravi Post Reporter

The protests taking place across Senegal were initially reported to have been sparked by the arrest of an opposition leader but there seems to be more to it.

At least four people have been killed amid the protests that started last week when opposition leader Ousmane Sonko was arrested.

Sonko appeared in court on Friday on rape charges and was remanded into custody, but the opposition leader’s arrest is not the major motivation for many protesters.

On Saturday the country’s opposition called for fresh protests from Monday.

Officials of the Movement for the Defence of Democracy want Senegalese people to “massively descend on the streets”.

Already protesters have torched cars and shops in an expression of anger, an event that is fast turning into Senegal’s worst unrest in recent years.

Sonko placed third in the 2019 presidential elections and is considered a strong contender for the scheduled 2024 vote.

He has described the case against him as politically motivated and an attempt by President Macky Sall’s allies to prevent him from running in the next election.

Many of the protesters who a young support him and want more reforms beyond his release from custody.

They have taken to social media with a trending hashtag #FreeSenegal as they push for an end to what they say is bad governance, lack of democracy, corruption & nepotism.

Some have also called for economic reforms, provision of quality health care among others.

Protesters are fast coming from all parts of the country and various groups of individuals including women, young and older people.

President Macky Sall who has been president for nine years now has been criticized by many for not speaking out about the protests and the deaths recorded so far.

There are concerns among some citizens that he wants to extend his current second term stay in power by seven years instead of mandated five years.

The Community of West African States (ECOWAS), of which Senegal is a member has called for calm and restraint from all parties.

ECOWAS has asked the government “to take the necessary measures to ease tensions and guarantee the freedom to demonstrate peacefully”.

Tanzania’s President Magufuli says democracy ‘has limits’

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Regional

Senegal: Tension heightens over arrest of opposition leader

Maravi Post Reporter
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There is heightened tension in Senegal following the arrest of opposition leader, Ousmane Sonko who is due to appear in court on Friday on rape charges.

Clashes erupted in Dakar on Thursday between Students at the Cheick Anta Diop University and law enforcement officials over the arrest.

At least one person has been reported dead as a result of the clashes sparked by students setting barricades and throwing projectiles at riot police.

The police also responded by shooting tear gas and other types of non-lethal ammunition into the protesters.

Thursday’s protest was the second consecutive day of demonstrations in various Senegalese cities in support of Sonko.

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The protests were also in protest of President Macky Sall’s government, according to local media reporting.

Sonko, placed third in the 2019 presidential elections and is considered a strong contender for the scheduled 2024 vote.

He has described the case against him as politically motivated and an attempt by President Macky Sall’s allies to prevent him from running in the next election.

Senegal‘s parliament voted last week to strip Mr Sonko’s immunity so the rape trial could proceed.

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Meanwhile the two TV stations have had their operations suspended by the National Audiovisual Regulatory Council (CNRA) for broadcasting the protests.

Sen TV and Walf TV channels have been accused of broadcasting “in loop” images of the unrest after Mr Sonko’s arrest.

Families of migrants killed under Jammeh sue Gambia, Ghana

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Regional

Senegal’s government dissolved by the President

Maravi Post Reporter

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Senegalese President Macky Sall has dissolved his government, the presidency has said in a statement.

President Sall according to the statement signed four decrees to dissolve the government which had 32 ministers and three state secretaries.

The statement did not give any reason for the dissolution but speculations are rife that a  new cabinet will be formed soon.

“While awaiting the putting in place of a new government, outgoing ministers and secretaries of state are charged with carrying out their ongoing affairs,” the statement read.

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President Sall won a second term of five years in March 2019.

He has since abolished the office of prime minister and  the functions of the secretary general to the presidency Mahammed Boun Abdallah Dione who was a close associate.

President Sall  has also dismissed another former prime minister Aminata Toure from her post as chair of the country’s economic, social and environmental council (CESE).

Kenya’s chief justice wants parliament dissolved over gender rule

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