In Senegal, a national mourning was issued by President Macky Sall this Thursday, March 11, in tribute to the victims of the recent demonstrations that left at least 5 dead, according to an official report, 11 according to the protest movement. This very recent “movement for the defense of democracy”, M2D, had previously called for the organization of a day of mourning on Friday. A coalition consisting of political groups and civic movements. What is she like? What is its password?
It was only a few hours afterarrest of Ousmane Sonko for disturbances of public order on 3 March. In the process, political figures and civil society announced the creation of a “framework for unity of action”.
Among the signatories: opposition parliamentarians – inclusive Ousmane Sonko, leaders of political movements – Thierno Bocoum from the Agir movement, Babacar Diop from the democratic forces in Senegal … -, and leaders of civic organizations –Aliou Sané from Y’en a Marre or Guy Marius Sagna from Frapp-France Dégage … -. Purpose: “To unite all opposition to autocratic practice”.
A coalition that has become M2D
The movement aims to be “broad, open and inclusive”. To represent him in his statements: Aliou Sané, Cheikh Tidiane Dièye, from the political platform Avenir Sénégaal bi nu bëgg, the economist Yassine Fall or the former minister Ndèye Fatou Diop Blondin.
A motley alliance, gathered around the same line. For M2D, President Macky Sall has “no longer the moral dignity” to lead Senegal. The coalition condemns a “sordid plot” against Ousmane Sonko, and a will from power “to remove all political opposition”. Among other demands: release of prisoners, “arbitrarily detained” according to him, and “opening of an independent investigation” into those responsible for the deaths recorded during the demonstrations. The movement announces the forthcoming publication of a memorandum of 10 demands.
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“We have no call to be there ad vitamin aeternam” assures Cheikh Tidiane Dièye, one of the people responsible for M2D. The coalition has “a specific mission, framed in time and space”. The collective calls for “synergy” and aims to become “more powerful” than M23 in 2011/2012, the protest movement that had fought against a third term of the then president, Abdoulaye Wade.
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