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Violence in Senegal continues over election postponement

  • Joel Orme
  • Feb 10, 2024
  • 1 min read

Saint-Louis, Senegal
© Manu25 / CC-BY-SA-4.0

Violent protests in Senegal have continued following Macky Sall's postponement of the country's elections. A student has now died in the clashes between civilians and the police, a local hospital in north Senegal has confirmed.


The elections due on 25 February were delayed indefinitely by President Macky Sall a week ago. He has since confirmed they will take place on 15 December. Sall has denied he delayed to cling on to power.


Since the, violent protests have engulfed the African country, with clashes between civilians and the police causing the death of a student in Saint-Louis, a city in north Senegal, today.


Opposition leader Khalifa Sall, who is not related to the president, earlier called the election delay a "constitutional coup". President Sall said he was ready to step down, but wanted to leave the country stable and peaceful.


The death of the student in Saint-Louis was reported by Khalifa Sall in a post on social media. "The hearts of all democrats bleed at this outburst of clashes provoked by the unjustified halting of the electoral process," he said.


"I bow piously before the memory of Alpha Yoro Tounkara, student at @UGBSN, who died today in Saint-Louis. I extend my heartfelt condolences to his family, his fellow students and the Senegalese people.


"I express my unwavering support for the injured and call for the immediate release of the arrested demonstrators. We call on the regional and international community to witness the excesses of this dying power. Alongside the people, I demand a return to constitutional order", he continued.


The government have not commented on the news.

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