Senegal’s growing unrest after Sall’s ‘constitutional coup’ can further destabilize West Africa

There have now been three fatalities amid protests in Senegal over the postponement of the presidential election until December, which has been condemned by the opposition as a “constitutional coup” and that could have dire consequences for the entire coup-hit West Africa.
Clashes erupted between security forces and protesters in the capital Dakar and other cities last week, which have so far claimed the lives of three young men, according to Cartogra Free Senegal (CFS), a civil society platform tracking casualties. The violent clashes were triggered by the announcement of the election delay just three weeks ahead of the planned vote on 25 February that have escalated into a wave of unrest that many fear will spill over into protracted instability. As the public outcry mounts, the West African regional bloc ECOWAS and foreign powers have urged Senegalese President Macky Sall to put the country back on a regular electoral footing.
But Sall is showing no signs of backing down, said Sidy Diop, deputy editor of Le Soleil daily. “He has never backed down, for him it’s a question of self-respect”, said Diop. However, he added that the head of state is “in a very bad position” because if civil society and the opposition “manage to impose a balance of power unfavorable to the government and rally the international community, the president may then back down.” While until now, Senegal was seen as a stable democracy in a region that has experienced six coups since August 2020, the growing instability could lead to a new surge in emigration with serious repercussions not just for Senegal but also for Europe.