SENEGAL: Rivals of Senegalese President Abdoulaye Wade pledge to campaign together in an effort to force him to withdraw from election

Record ID: 346481

  • Title: SENEGAL: Rivals of Senegalese President Abdoulaye Wade pledge to campaign together in an effort to force him to withdraw from election
  • Date: 6th February 2012
  • Summary: DAKAR, SENEGAL (FEBRUARY 04, 2012) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE MACKY SALL GREETING HIS SUPPORTERS FROM HIS CAR WOMAN HOLDING POSTER OF PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE IDRISSA SECK SECK IN HIS CAR GREETING SUPPORTERS YOUNG PEOPLE DANCING IN THE STREET VARIOUS OF MEMBERS OF OPPOSITION PARTIES AND PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATES ADDRESSING SUPPORTERS/ SUPPORTERS CHEERING (SOUNDBITE) (French) MOUSTAPHA NIASSE, OPPOSITION LEADER SAYING: "12 years is enough! Enough of 12 years of lack democracy! Enough of 12 years of corruption and stealing state funds." MORE OF CROWD CHEERING CHEIK TIDIANE GADIO, PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE ADDRESSING SUPPORTERS VIDEOJOURNALISTS (SOUNDBITE) (French) CHEIK TIDIANE GADIO, PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE SAYING: "Today, the Senegalese people should be debating what the candidates have to offer but unfortunately, we are here debating on the constitutional coup d' etat that just took place, and the electoral coup d' etat that will likely take place, which we will not accept. I take this opportunity to thank the leaders of the M23, and I encourage them to maintain their stand. The people of Senegal are extremely happy that we have decided to put them before ourselves." VARIOUS OF SUPPORTERS WATCHING ON/ SUPPORTER WEARING A T-SHIRT READING: "STAND UP AGAINST THE HIGH COST OF LIVING" SUPPORTERS CHEERING (SOUNDBITE) (French) BAYE KEBE, STUDENT SAYING: "It's a good strategy because in order to defeat someone like Abdoulaye Wade, you need to come together in order to attack." SUPPORTER DISTRIBUTING CANDIDATE POSTERS SUPPORTERS (SOUNDBITE) (French) IDRISSA NDOYE, RETIRED SAYING: "It's normal that they unite, as they have the same objective which is to win." VARIOUS OF OPPOSITION MEMBERS LEAVING VENUE AFTER MEETING
  • Embargoed: 21st February 2012 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Senegal, Senegal
  • Country: Senegal
  • Topics: Politics
  • Reuters ID: LVA5RJOSKNNCIRWU33CUKYU0ENYC
  • Story Text: Senegalese President Abdoulaye Wade's main rivals pledged on Saturday to campaign together in an effort to force him to withdraw from an election next month.
    The group made up of opposition leaders, who have come together with civil society organisations under the M-23 banner, did not give details on how they would try to prevent Wade from running for a third term in the February 26 vote.
    But the pledge, a day before campaigning officially opened, underscored rising tensions in a country that has long been an island of stability in West Africa.
    Wade's candidacy was approved last week by the country's top legal body, but it has sparked riots on the streets and drawn criticism from foreign donors, especially the United States, which said the bid posed a risk to Senegal's stability.
    "12 years is enough! Enough of 12 years of lack democracy! Enough of 12 years of corruption and stealing state funds," said the veteran opposition leader Moustapha Niasse, addressing a crowd of supporters.
    The group includes music star Youssou N'Dour, whose bid was blocked by the same legal body that signed off on Wade's application; two former prime ministers, Macky Sall and Idrissa Seck; and veteran opposition leaders Niasse and Ousmane Tanor Dieng.
    Wade's rivals have so far struggled to forge a unified front against him. Having himself led street protests before coming to power in 2000, Wade has openly mocked the opposition for failing to mobilise a serious challenge and dismissed foreign criticism.
    But his rivals sought to put their divisions behind them.
    "Today, the Senegalese people should be debating what the candidates have to offer but unfortunately, we are here debating on the constitutional coup d'etat that just took place, and the electoral coup d'etat that will likely take place, which we will not accept. I take this opportunity to thank the leaders of the M23, and I encourage them to maintain their stand. The people of Senegal are extremely happy that we have decided to put them before ourselves," said Cheik Tidiane Gadio, presidential candidate.
    Wade's rivals say his bid for a third term breaches rules setting a two-term limit, but the president argues that his first term should not be counted as limits were added in 2001, after he had already begun his time in power.
    "It's a good strategy because in order to defeat someone like Abdoulaye Wade, you need to come together in order to attack," said Baye Kebe, a student and opposition supporter.
    "It's normal that they unite, as they have the same objective which is to win," added another opposition supporter Idrissa Ndoye.
    At least four people have been killed in street clashes over Wade's candidacy. World leaders have called on all sides to show restraint, warning that the West African nation's democratic credentials were at stake.
    Violent street protests last June forced Wade to backtrack on proposed changes to the election law that were widely seen as aiding his re-election, but demonstrations against his candidacy so far have failed to gather the same momentum.
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