Senegalese protesters tell President Wade in no uncertain terms it’s time to leave, rejecting the implied dynastic arrangement in constitutional changes that could see his son Karim Wade take over © Moussa Sow / SIPA

The constitutional changes would have reduced the number of votes needed to win an election from 51% to 25% and allowed Wade to establish the post of the vice- president, the occupant of which would automatically take over in the event of his death.

The move deeply underestimated the Senegalese people and revealed the strength of the opposition, which though divided and disorganised has somewhat come together in the fight against Wade’s third term. It also revealed some deep cracks in the relationships with Wade’s overseas friends.


On 23 June, the streets erupted in organised protest, people looted and burned administrative buildings and the police fired tear gas. Notable among those arrested were members of the influential grassroots social movement called Y’en a Marre (Enough!). Thugs aligned to the ruling party beat Alioune Tine, secretary-general of Rencontre Africaine pour la Défense des Droits de l'Homme. By evening, Wade announced his withdrawal of the constitutional changes.


On the night of 27 June, after three days of power cuts lasting up to 20 hours at a time, the streets again erupted in violent protest, prompting Wade to bring in tanks and riot police. Across the city, tear gas canisters popped and fires burned. Protesters attacked Société National d'Éléctricité du Sénégal (Senelec) offices. Senelec says that it is dealing with an electricity deficit of 164MW and debts of 280bn CFA francs ($59m). As the weather heats up and Ramadan approaches, the situation is only set to get hotter.


In a panic, Karim called Robert Bourgui, a cog in the powerful Françafrique network, and asked him to send in the French army. Bourgui declined and then spilled the details of the phone call to Radio France Internationale(RFI). Frenchforeign minister Alain Juppé warned on 5 July: “President Wade has clearly called for the departure of [Muammar el] Gaddafi in Libya. I am very tempted to say that we need to ensure that the same causes do not lead to the same effects.”


The opposition coalition Benno Siggil Senegal (United to Save Senegal) hopes to prove that Wade’s third term attempt at the presidency is illegal and to force him out of power. But few think a judge will rule against the President. 


Benno will try to keep up the pressure on Wade and hope to defeat him in a second round run-off, uniting behind the most popular candidate. 

By Special correspondent