Senegalese voters protest shortage of new electoral cards days before local elections.

Record ID: 903980

  • Title: Senegalese voters protest shortage of new electoral cards days before local elections.
  • Date: 26th July 2017
  • Summary: VARIOUS OF ELECTORAL BILLBOARD SHOWING WADE / SLOGAN READING (FRENCH): 'FOR A SENEGAL STANDING AND INDEPENDENT'
  • Embargoed: 9th August 2017 16:42
  • Keywords: Macky Sall legislative elections ECOWAS cards registration Wade Khalifa Sall Mayor protests
  • Location: DAKAR, SENEGAL
  • City: DAKAR, SENEGAL
  • Country: Senegal
  • Topics: Government/Politics,Elections/Voting
  • Reuters ID: LVA0076RCT6XJ
  • Aspect Ratio: 16:9
  • Story Text: Senegalese police came out in force on Tuesday (July 25) to stop a protest organized by former president Abdoulaye Wade, now leader of a coalition of opposition parties 'Wattu Senegal', to denounce the shortage of new biometric identity cards which they need to vote in Sunday's legislative election.
    The Interior Minister Abdulaye Daouda Diallo said on July 24 that 30 percent of the cards had not been distributed.
    Opposition parties are crying foul and accusing the government of incompetence and trying to interfere with the election.
    "They knew fully well that they would not have the time to distribute 100 percent of the cards. Why insist on maintaining this date of July 30 to hold the legislative elections," said opposition candidate, Ndella Madior Diouf.
    A projected 4 million voters were due to register for the new cards in October last year but in March this year, the interior minister said the figure was over 5 million.
    It takes 15 days to make a card after registration.
    While authorities say they are confident all the cards will be issued by election day, President Macky Sall on Monday (July 24) called on the constitutional council to allow voters to use their card registration receipts, accompanied by passports or driving licences to vote.
    "It's a first, it's a first in Senegal and that is the reason there have been this slowness because we needed to apply all the rigour and in all seriousness in order to achieve a secure process that guarantees our democracy," said Minister and Special advisor to the president, Mor Ngom.
    In Dakar, some voters said they had been going from centre to centre looking for their cards, and some said they had been waiting several months after registering.
    "When they start something they should go all the way because this kind of thing has never happened before, looking for your identity card for five months or six months! We've had several governments and we've never had this kind of problem, just for one ID card you have to run and run and you get fed up. They can just keep their card. One of my friend's said he doesn't want it any more after all this going back and forth being told its in Castor, in Parcelles, all over the place," said Mohammed Cisse, a voter.
    "It is doable (using the acknowledgement receipts to vote with) because you can be identified with them. I think what Macky called for is ok (using the receipts). Things take the time they take, it has to happen. There are no problems. It was just Macky's destiny, it's not a problem, I don't' blame him for anything, I like Macky a lot," said Aicha Diallo, another voter.
    The card confusion is just another dent in the lead up to an election which has been plagued by allegations that the government is not transparent.
    The popular mayor of Dakar, Khalifa Sall (no relation to the president), was arrested in March accused of misuse of public funds. His supporters were quick to accuse the president of trying to eliminate his opposition ahead of the 2019 presidential elections.
    A large poster stands on the gates of the Mayor's office with the number of days he has been in prison.
    The opposition also complained when the national assembly voted to change the electoral law last month to help Senegalese cope with a gargantuan 47 parties and coalitions represented in the election. Voters will now be choosing from 5 ballots instead of the 47 before going in the voting booth to avoid delays and confusion.
    Political analyst Bakary Domingo Mane said this level of disorganization leaves room for concerns over whether the polls will be credible.
    "There are a number of questions that the opposition is asking, that Senegalese are asking, on the transparency of the poll if the counsel agrees to the president's request (to use card registration receipts). Those are questions that people are asking themselves," he said.
    A surprise addition to the election was the return of former Senegal president Abdulaye Wade who is not standing but is leading a coalition of opposition parties, known as Wattu Senegal.
    "The fact that he has come back is a way for him to get his revenge on current president, Macky Sall. So for me, these legislative elections are preparation for 2019 presidential election so that his son finds a path that is already drawn. So he has come to do the work of his son who is not here but will most probably come to Senegal for the 2019 presidential. That is a possible reason he has come to Senegal," said Mane.
    Karim Wade, the son of former president Wade, served three years in prison for corruption, including hiding funds in offshore companies in the British Virgin Islands and Panama. He was freed in June last year.
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