The anti-French epicenter has lately relocated to Senegal following the protests at the French embassy in the city of Niger, Niamey, where anti-French sentiment found expression via destruction of the diplomatic mission, anti-Macron chanting, and the burning of French flags. Protests and conflicts between law enforcement and demonstration groups are occurring in the former colony, which gained independence in 1960 but, like many African nations, has not severed the link that ties it to Paris.
While two men were killed in Ziguinchor, in the country's south, riots were occurring in the suburbs of Dakar, the nation's capital.
The arrest and conviction of Ousmane Sonko, the head of the Senegalese opposition and a contender for the 2024 elections, was the reason for the demonstrations.
Sonko had been accused of rape in 2021, in what seemed like a staged and planned attempt to derail his political ascent. The charge was ultimately dropped by the court, but he was nonetheless found guilty of acting immorally. Following this occurrence, there were demonstrations that resulted in fourteen fatalities.
After embarking on a hunger strike while being held in custody pending trial and encouraging other political prisoners to do the same, the 2024 presidential hopeful is now being charged with corruption and inciting an uprising. Additionally, Sonko is charged with endangering national security.
The dissolution of Sonko's movement, PASTEF, the party of Senegalese patriots, was declared by the interior minister of Senegal less than two hours after Sonko made the claim, along with the identical charges of inciting instability in the nation.
The presence of Macky Sall, the current president of Senegal and a key supporter of the Elysée, lurks in the background of this rage. Even though he just said that he would not seek reelection for a third term, Sonko appears to be choosing candidates who are not part of the Senegalese movement that gained momentum following the 2019 elections, in which Sonko came in third. A powerful pan-Africanist opposition that is unpopular elsewhere in the Alps. The dissolution of Sonko's movement, PASTEF, the party of Senegalese patriots, was declared by the interior minister of Senegal less than two hours after Sonko made the claim, along with the identical charges of inciting instability in the nation.
The unbalanced relations between France and Senegal have been pointed out by Sonko, who has said that if elected president, he will work to improve them. The influence France wields through the CFA Franc, the colonial currency that renders the 14 African nations that use it slaves, only serves to exacerbate the disparity.
And although Senegal restricts access to social media to stop the uprising from spreading, similar to what happened in Paris a few days ago, it is conceivable that millions of educated and aware young Africans can no longer stand to be second-class citizens in Macron's colonial garden.