Senegal: What Will Turnover Bring?

Abstract

Despite Senegal’s democratic reputation after the Senegalese Democratic Party unseated the Socialists in 2000, the regime actually remained competitive authoritarian under President Abdoulaye Wade (2000–12). In the March presidential election, Wade lost to Macky Sall, leader of the Alliance for the Republic (APR) party. Paradoxically, Wade’s repression and pursuit of a constitutionally questionable third term fostered developments that could eventually trigger full democratization. Recent politicization of civil society has increased the scope of opposition coordination. The citizen mobilization that occurred through the Assises Nationales and the June 23 Movement (M23) may constrain Sall and help him rule with transparency.

Staging a “Revolution”: The 2011–12 Electoral Protests in Senegal

“…When Wade ousted his prime minister, Idrissa Seck, in 2004, the latter—after a period in detention due to accusations of corruption—started his own party, Rewmi, in 2006 (Mbow 2008:164; Resnick 2013:631). The next prime minister, Macky Sall, left the PDS due to a clash with Wade in 2008 and formed the Alliance pour la République (APR) (Kelly 2012:125; Resnick 2013:631). After Wade’s victory in the 2007 presidential elections, a coalition of opposition parties, including the PS, the Alliance des Forces de Progrès (AFP), and former left-wing partners of Wade, boycotted the legislative elections several months later.…”

“…Although invited, the PDS did not take part in the conference. Front Siggil Senegaal developed further into Bennoo Siggil Senegaal (United to Boost Senegal; BSS) with the addition of new partners (Kelly 2012:126–7; Resnick 2013:631–2). This coalition defeated the PDS in most major urban areas in the local elections of 2009.…”

“The Old Man is Dead”: Hip Hop and the Arts of Citizenship of Senegalese Youth

“…The chants animating the opposition movement that was spawned during the troubled year leading up to the elections were directed at the elderly incumbent, President Abdoulaye Wade. By 2012, Wade's popularity had declined dramatically owing to economic stagnation, extensive political scandals, and curbs on democratic practice which led observers to characterize his presidency as increasingly patrimonial, autocratic, and even authoritarian (Bingol and Vengroff ; Kelly ; Mbow ). In the direct lead up to the elections, Wade had galvanized the country's opposition movement by insisting on running for a controversial third term, attempting to make significant changes to the constitution, and aggressively cracking down on peaceful protests (Kelly ).…”

“…By 2012, Wade's popularity had declined dramatically owing to economic stagnation, extensive political scandals, and curbs on democratic practice which led observers to characterize his presidency as increasingly patrimonial, autocratic, and even authoritarian (Bingol and Vengroff ; Kelly ; Mbow ). In the direct lead up to the elections, Wade had galvanized the country's opposition movement by insisting on running for a controversial third term, attempting to make significant changes to the constitution, and aggressively cracking down on peaceful protests (Kelly ). Violent street clashes between youth and police shocked the nation and sent a message to the international community that Senegal's reputation as a beacon of peaceful democracy in West Africa was critically threatened.…”

“… Despite official rights of assembly, opposition protests in downtown Dakar were effectively banned from Independence Square through the unlawful denial of permits (Kelly ). As a result, protesters congregated behind police barricades in the streets surrounding the square.…”