Senegal backtracks on five-day demo ban

Senegalese opposition leaders were celebrating an early victory on Friday over the latest government decision to lift the five-day ban it had imposed on public demonstrations.

A statement on the national broadcaster early Friday said the interior ministry ban imposed on Wednesday against all public demonstrations for five days have been lifted with immediate effect.

But the statement warned organisers of the planned public demonstrations across the country to ensure that the events are conducted in an orderly manner and not provoke chaos.

Sources said the European Union representatives in the country played a key role in brokering the lifting of the ban.

Mr Abdou Aziz Diop, a leader of the pro-opposition coalition group, Mouvement de 23 Juine or M23, described the lifting of the ban as a “positive action by government”.

He however expressed hope that the authorities would continue to see reason all along the electoral process.

Controversial candidature

Opposition and civil society groups in and around Dakar were planning for a massive turnout a rally at the Place d’Obelisque, near the national radio and television station.

Mr Diop assured that the demonstrators will conduct themselves peacefully while they awaited the final validation of the list of presidential candidates expected later in the afternoon.

Sources told Africa Review other public demonstrations were being planned across the across the country and could turn out violent as soon as President Abdoulaye Wade's controversial candidacy was declared legitimate.

The Constitutional Court was Friday expected to declare the full list of eligible presidential candidates.

In Thies, located just 70 kilometres from Dakar, impatient demonstrators took to the streets late Thursday evening but were blocked by riot police while a number were arrested.

About 20 candidates have submitted their nominations including three former premiers and four former foreign affairs ministers, but President Wade’s candidature is overwhelmingly contested by the political class.

Critics say the candidature is unconstitutional because the constitution has been modified twice and the initial seven year mandate was reintroduced in 2008 after it was scrapped in 2001.

There is no alternative candidate so far to represent the ruling Parti Democratique Sénégalais if the 85-year-old president is barred from running again by the Constitutional Council.

This has given the impression to the political class that the decision to let him continue is foregone conclusion.